Friday November 7, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) — Howlwadaag district’s football team clinched the Banadir Regional Football Tournament title on Thursday afternoon, defeating Warsheikh district 2–1 in a thrilling final match at Mogadishu Stadium.
Hundreds of jubilant fans from across the capital and nearby neighborhoods packed the stands, celebrating not just football but a rare moment of calm and collective pride in a city long scarred by conflict. Among the spectators was Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who hailed the massive turnout as a “powerful sign of peace and security” taking root in Mogadishu.
“This competition has achieved its goal of fostering social cohesion and strengthening the bonds among the Somali people,” he said.
The president used the occasion to draw a symbolic link between the public’s enthusiasm for football and civic engagement, urging Somalia’s youth to bring the same energy to the upcoming local council elections.
“Youth, just as you have come out for this football match, you must come out for the elections that will soon begin in the districts of the Banadir region,” Mohamud said. “The decision is in your hands — choose your leadership.”
He extended special congratulations to Howlwadaag’s players, coaches, and supporters for their victory, commending all participating teams for demonstrating discipline, sportsmanship, and fair play throughout the competition.
The Banadir Regional Football Tournament, held over several weeks, has grown into one of the city’s most anticipated sporting events. It has come to symbolize Mogadishu’s resilience, where the cheers of fans now echo in spaces once defined by conflict, offering a glimpse of the capital’s enduring hope and renewal.