Thursday June 18, 2026
Dar Es Salaam (AX) — Somalia’s U-17 women’s football team delivered a breakthrough moment on Wednesday, overpowering Sudan 8-2 in their final Group A fixture at the CECAFA U-17 Women’s Championship in Dar es Salaam.
The result carried special weight: it was the first victory ever recorded by a Somali national women’s team in a regional competition, a landmark for the sport in the country.
Nagma Mohamed led the way with a hat-trick, while Sundus Mohamaed struck twice as Somalia ran riot at KMC Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Hibo Salad, Halimo Isse and Maryan Osoble also found the net.
For Sudan, who are also making their debut in the regional tournament, the goals came from Nashwa Abbas and Fatin Fadol.
“I am very happy that I scored three goals today. This will motivate me to keep working hard,” said Nagma Mohamed who netted a hat-trick and was voted player of the match.
Somalia, widely known as the Ocean Queens, had already fallen behind in the standings after opening with a 4-0 defeat to hosts Tanzania and then suffering a 6-0 loss to Kenya in their second outing. Those back-to-back defeats had sealed their exit from the competition before Wednesday’s final group match.
Even so, the young Somali side produced a commanding display against Sudan, scoring eight times and allowing two in a performance that stood out for its attacking flair.
Supporters across Somalia hailed the win as a historic step forward and a encouraging sign for the growth of women’s football in the country.
Though the Ocean Queens bowed out in the group stage, their emphatic victory over Sudan ensured Somalia left the tournament with a milestone result in regional women’s football.
