Somalia: First football match in Mogadishu at night in 30 years

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The 3rd edition of the competition brought together 391 young footballers, who represented their respective districts, Garowe Online reports.

It will be a shining night for Somalia, as the final match of the 2017 edition of the district level Youth Football Tourney takes place at the FIFA refurbished Stadium Banadir on the evening of September 8.

Somali Football Federation has confirmed that Waaberi District Youth Football Team will take on their Hodan District rivals on Friday September 8, in what will be recognised as a shining night in the recent history of Somali football. It was more than 30 years ago when the last match was played in Somalia at night.

Sponsored by the Mayor of Somalia’s capital, Mr. Thabet Abdi Mohamed, the four-week long football tournament has brought together some 391 young footballers, aged 16-18 years. They represented their respective districts.

This is the 3rd edition of the competition and it is normally sponsored by the Mayor of the capital, but it is not to be confused with the National youth football league, which is played by U 15s.

I take this opportunity to thank the Mayor of the capital, Thabet Abdi Mohamed, for his commitment to helping the development of our sport. He is a young man who loves football and his full sponsorship for the competition makes a big difference for us all,” the Somali Football Federation president, Abdiqani Said Arab, said in a statement.

“Such competitions help us identify young and talented footballers,” he added.

GAROWEONLINE