Wednesday April 23, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud met on Tuesday with Souleiman Hassan Waberi, President of the Djibouti Football Federation, Vice President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), and member of the FIFA Council, to discuss regional sports cooperation and the growth of Somali football.
During the meeting at Villa Somalia, President Mohamud praised Djibouti’s active role in global football governance and commended Waberi’s contributions to the sport through his leadership roles within CAF and FIFA.
The Somali leader emphasized the importance of strengthening sports diplomacy between the two nations and expressed his government’s commitment to enhancing youth development and professionalizing sports in Somalia through regional collaboration and knowledge exchange.
The talks were also attended by Somalia’s Minister of Youth and Sports, the Somali Football Federation (SFF) President, and other senior government officials.
Somalia has made notable strides in revitalizing its football programs in recent years. The national team—popularly known as the Ocean Stars—has increased its participation in regional and continental tournaments across Africa and Asia, contributing to developing youth talent and raising the country’s profile in international football.