Somalia’s U-17 women’s football team secured a historic 8-2 victory over Sudan in Dar es Salaam, marking their first international win in a competitive match, according to multiple sports reports. The match, part of a regional qualification tournament, saw forward Najmo Mohamed score a hat-trick, with three goals in the first half, as reported by the Somali Football Federation.
The result came after a 10-day training camp in Tanzania, organized by the East African Football Union, which aimed to prepare teams for the 2025 Africa U-17 Women’s Cup qualifiers. Somali officials confirmed the squad’s preparation included two friendly matches against Kenyan and Ugandan teams, both of which ended in draws. Sudan’s team, ranked 12th in the region by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), faced challenges in midfield, with their goalkeeper conceding five goals in the first 45 minutes, according to live match statistics from the tournament’s official website.
Najmo Mohamed, 16, became the youngest player to score three goals in a competitive match for Somalia’s U-17 team, according to the Somali Sports Journal. Her first goal came in the 12th minute, following a cross from midfielder Amina Haji, who was named player of the match by the tournament’s refereeing committee. Mohamed’s second goal, in the 28th minute, was a solo effort after she dribbled past three Sudanese defenders, while her third came from a penalty kick in the 43rd minute, awarded after a handball infringement.
Sudan’s coach, Khalid Al-Mustafa, acknowledged the defeat in a post-match statement, saying, “We underestimated their speed and coordination. Somalia’s players showed exceptional teamwork, particularly in the attacking third.” Somali captain Fatima Abdi, 17, echoed the sentiment, stating, “This win is a testament to our preparation and the support from our fans, who traveled from Mogadishu to cheer us on.”
The match drew an attendance of 2,300 spectators at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, according to event organizers. A follow-up tournament match is scheduled for October 15, where Somalia will face Ethiopia, a team that previously defeated Sudan 4-1 in a group stage match. CAF has confirmed the winner of the group will advance to the 2025 Africa U-17 Women’s Cup, a tournament that last featured Somalia in 2018.
