HARGEISA, Somaliland (Horn post) The Somaliland Football Federation on Saturday officially opened its first-ever national congress in Hargeisa, marking a significant milestone in efforts to strengthen football governance, resolve past disputes and accelerate sports development across Somaliland.
The landmark gathering, the first of its kind organized by the federation, brought together senior government officials, sports leaders, federation representatives and key stakeholders from across Somaliland’s sporting community.
The opening ceremony was attended by Somaliland’s Minister of Youth and Sports, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, officials from various government institutions, leaders of sports federations and invited guests.
Officially launching the congress, Somaliland Minister of Youth and Sports Ahmed Yasin Mohamed Farah highlighted the critical importance of investing in sports development and emphasized football’s central role in uniting communities and nurturing young talent.
The minister praised the Somaliland Football Federation for organizing what he described as an important national forum capable of transforming the future of football in Somaliland.
“This congress organized by the Somaliland Football Federation is extremely important. We hope the challenges and disputes that football in Somaliland has experienced over the years can finally be overcome through this important gathering,” Ahmed Yasin said.
He added that sports development remains a priority for Somaliland’s long-term youth development agenda, stressing that football has the power to strengthen social unity while creating opportunities for future generations.
President of the Somaliland Football Federation Mahamoud Abdi Aw Hirsi thanked all participants, describing the congress as a major step toward improving governance, strategic planning and long-term development of football in Somaliland.
Speaking at the conference, Hirsi said the gathering was designed to build a stronger institutional foundation for Somaliland sports while encouraging greater collaboration among all stakeholders.
“It is a great honor for us today to host this congress. For the first time, four former federation chairmen who dedicated years of effort to football development are gathered here together. We organized this congress so people can come together, share ideas and help lay a stronger foundation for the future of our sports,” Hirsi said.
The federation president stressed that unity would be essential in advancing Somaliland’s sporting ambitions.
“My guiding principle is simple — together, we must collectively develop and strengthen sports in our country,” he added.
Meanwhile, Hirsi Ali Haji Hassan, chairman of the Waddani Party, praised the congress and called for broader reforms across Somaliland’s sports sector to improve competitiveness and position the country for greater participation in international sporting events.
“Just as we seek international recognition for our country, we also want our sports sector to achieve recognition and participate globally. But before reaching the outside world, we must first fix and strengthen our internal systems because strong institutions at home are what allow the world to recognize and accept us,” Hirsi Ali Haji Hassan said.
Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports Yusuf Nuh Tadhase reaffirmed that the Somaliland Football Federation operates independently from the ministry and has full authority over managing its football programs and development agenda.
He said supporting sports infrastructure was part of the government’s commitments, revealing that construction of eight sports stadiums had already been initiated, with some completed and others still under development.
“The Somaliland Football Federation operates independently from the Ministry of Youth and Sports. They manage their own affairs, and as part of our commitments, eight stadium projects have been launched, some already completed while others remain under construction. We remain fully committed to developing Somaliland sports,” Yusuf Nuh Tadhase said.
The congress is widely seen as a turning point for Somaliland football following years of administrative disputes, with stakeholders expressing hope the gathering will help create stability, stronger governance and a roadmap for future sporting success.
The historic conference also reflects Somaliland’s broader ambition to elevate its sports sector and eventually secure greater participation in international football and global sporting competitions.
Pictures:
Horn Post News Desk.
Hargeisa, Somaliland
