Sport
Somali football clubs: Dekedda, Gaadiidka, Heegan, Jeenyo, Elman and the rest
Most of Somalia's football clubs are in Mogadishu, and many began as teams of state bodies: the ports (Dekedda), transport (Gaadiidka), public works (Jeenyo), the police (Heegan) and the printing agency. Dekedda has won more league titles than any other club since the 2016/17 season, with titles in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2023/24 and the first Somali entries in the CAF Champions League.
How the clubs began
The RSSSF, which keeps football records for every country, traces the first Somali clubs to the 1940s. Many grew out of state bodies and their workers: the transport depot Autoparco (now Gaadiidka), the Public Works Department, Lavori Publici (now Jeenyo, from the Italian genio), the police and the army (RSSSF, Somalia champions). The two most successful clubs, Mogadishu City Club and Horseed, have their own pages. Below is every other club with a public record.
Dekedda (Dekedaha FC)
The club of the Mogadishu ports authority, known as Ports FC until 2013 (Dekedaha FC, Wikipedia). RSSSF lists six league titles: 1998, 2007, 2016/17, 2018, 2019 and 2023/24 (RSSSF). It has won the cup in 2002, 2004, 2023 and 2024 and the Super Cup in 2018, 2019 and 2023 (RSSSF, cup winners). Wikipedia records Dekedda in the CAF Champions League preliminary round in 2020 and again in 2024, and in the second round of the CAF Confederation Cup in 2025 (Wikipedia).
Gaadiidka
The transport club, which as Autoparco won three straight championships from 1954/55 to 1956/57 (RSSSF). Under the name Gaadiidka it won the league in 1990, 2022 and 2025/26. It played in the 1991 African Cup of Champions Clubs and uses the 20,000-seat Banadir Stadium (Gaadiidka FC, Wikipedia).
Heegan (formerly Somali Police FC)
Known as Somali Police FC until 2013. Wikipedia says the club was founded in 1950 in the port of Merca, during the UN trusteeship (Heegan FC, Wikipedia). As Somali Police it won the first post-independence championship in 1967; as Heegan it won in 2014/15 (RSSSF). It lost cup finals in 2014 and 2015 (RSSSF).
Jeenyo United (Lavori Publici, LLPP Jeenyo)
The public works club. It won the title in 1952 as SC Genio Officina, in 1959/60, and in 1969, 1970, 1971 and 1980/81 as Lavori Publici, and the cup in 1977, 1980, 2014 and 2016 (RSSSF; RSSSF, cup winners).
Elman FC
Elman FC won the league in 2000 to 2003 (RSSSF notes the club's own dates are 1997, 1999, 2001 and 2003), and in 2011 and 2012, plus the 2017 cup (RSSSF). It carries the name of Elman Ali Ahmed.
Wagad, Hoga and the National Printing Agency
- Wagad won four titles in the 1980s: 1982, 1985, 1987 and 1988 (Wagad, Wikipedia; RSSSF).
- Hoga (Xoogga, the armed forces) won the 1968 title and played in the 1969 African Cup of Champions Clubs (Hoga, Wikipedia).
- National Printing Agency (Madbacadda Qaranka) won the 1983 league and the 1981 cup (RSSSF).
All three now play in the second division at Banadir Stadium, according to Wikipedia.
Other clubs
- Sahafi FC, founded as SITT Daallo, won the 2007 cup, took the name Sahafi in 2012 and played in the 2012–13 Arab Champions League (Sahafi FC, Wikipedia).
- Badbaado lost the 2012 cup final 3–1 to Banaadir SC and was promoted again in 2021 (RSSSF; RSSSF 2021).
- Gasko FC, from Karaan district, played in the first division in 2003/04 and dropped to the third division by 2011/12 (Gasko FC, Wikipedia).
- Waxool FC won the 1984 cup and played in the 2018 first division (RSSSF; RSSSF 2018).
- Raadsan, Midnimo and Geeska Afrika played in the 2021 first division (RSSSF 2021).
Read more
Sources
- RSSSF, Somalia champions · rsssf.org
- Dekedaha FC, Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org
- RSSSF, cup winners · rsssf.org
- Gaadiidka FC, Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org
- Heegan FC, Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org
- Wagad, Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org
- Hoga, Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org
- Sahafi FC, Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org
- RSSSF 2021 · rsssf.org
- Gasko FC, Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org
- RSSSF 2018 · rsssf.org
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Where this matters
Same era
- Australia18,401 people of Somali ancestry and 8,101 born in Somalia lived in Australia at the 2021 Census, more than half in Victoria. History, work, issues.
- Birmingham (Somali diaspora)About 17,000 to 21,600 Somalis live in Birmingham (Census 2021), mostly in Nechells, Newtown, Small Heath and Alum Rock. History, work, health and ties home.
- Bristol (Somali diaspora)9,167 people in Bristol identified as Somali or Somalilander in Census 2021, the city's largest minority group. Where they live, work, housing, leaders and ties home.
- Calgary, Alberta, Canada2,845 people of Somali origin lived in Calgary at the 2021 Census, plus 890 in Brooks. How they came, who serves them and what they face.
- Denmark (Somali diaspora)21,885 people of Somali origin lived in Denmark in 2026, half born there. Numbers, history, work, permit reviews, and ties home.
- DjiboutiAbout 13,900 refugees from Somalia live in Djibouti (Aug 2026): numbers since 1990, Ali Addeh, Holl-Holl, the 2017 refugee law, Arta 2000 and 2025 returns.
Keep reading
- Sport in Somalia: football, running and the Somalis who won the worldSport in Somalia: Abdi Bile's 1987 world title, Mo Farah, the Ocean Stars football team, the reopening of Mogadishu Stadium, and athletes of the diaspora.
- Somalia national football team (the Ocean Stars): history, results and recordsThe Somalia national football team: history since the 1940s, the 1963 FIFA entry, the 2019 win over Zimbabwe, records, captains, head-to-head results and home grounds.
- Somali First Division (Somali National League): every champion since 1933Somalia's top football league: history from the 1933 colonial championship, every champion by year, titles by club, the 2021 season and the inter-state championship.
- Somalia Cup (General Da'ud Cup) and Somalia Super Cup: every winnerSomalia's football cup competitions: the General Da'ud Cup since 1972 and the Super Cup since 2013, with every known winner and final score.
- Somaliland national football team, league and regional gamesSomaliland football: the national team in ConIFA, its first matches, the 2016 ConIFA World Cup, the Somaliland league, the regional games and Hargeisa stadium.
- Women's football in Somalia: from the first match to the national teamWomen's football in Somalia: registration figures since 2000, restrictions on women's sport, Golden Girls FC, the first tournament in 2024 and the national team's first match in 2025.