Tuesday July 30, 2024
FIFA President Gianni Infantino (right) with Somali Football Federation (SFF) President Ali Abdi Mohamed (left) following their meeting in Paris on Monday, July 29, 2024. The meeting focused on the successful utilization of FIFA Forward funds to enhance football infrastructure in Somalia and future development plans. CREDIT/ FIFA
Mogadishu (HOL) — FIFA President Gianni Infantino praised Somalia's effective use of FIFA Forward funds during a meeting with Somali Football Federation (SFF) President Ali Abdi Mohamed in Paris. The funds have facilitated major development projects, including constructing a new SFF headquarters to improve football infrastructure in Somalia. "Together with President Ali Abdi Mohamed, we had a detailed conversation about football's current situation in his country and the work that is being done to make the sport more accessible to everyone," Infantino said. He emphasized the importance of these improvements in making football more accessible in Somalia.
The discussions included the best ways to use the FIFA Forward program to support Somali football in the future. Infantino noted that the SFF has already made excellent use of the funds and discussed how to continue leveraging the program for further development. Infantino stated, "We also discussed the importance of providing playing opportunities for Somali national teams. FIFA will continue to support football development in Somalia, and I look forward to continuing our work together."
Ali Abdi Mohamed, also known as Ali Shiino, was recognized by FIFA as the head of the SFF in March 2023, ending a bitter leadership dispute that saw parallel elections and significant government intervention. The election process had previously been marred by factional infighting, leading to concerns over legitimacy and potential FIFA sanctions. The SFF has a checkered history of corruption and mismanagement. Former SFF president Abdiqani Said Arab was dismissed in December 2021 for abuse of power and misappropriation of funds meant for FIFA projects in Kismayu and Mogadishu. Ongoing issues of bribery, embezzlement, and lack of transparency have hampered the development of football in Somalia.
The SFF is the governing body responsible for developing and promoting football in Somalia. The SFF organizes various leagues, tournaments, and national teams, including the Somali Premier League, the Somalia Cup, and the Somalia national football team.
At the time of writing, FIFA ranks Somalia's senior national football team as the 202nd in the world out of a possible 211. Countries ranked lower than Somalia include the Bahamas, Guam, Sri Lanka, Turks and Caicos Islands, the British Virgin Islands, the US Virgin Islands, Anguilla, and San Marino. Many of these nations are territories or dependencies of larger countries that share common challenges, such as smaller populations, limited resources for football development, and geographic constraints, which impact their performance and ranking in international competitions.