# Somali Football Federation (SFF): history, leaders and what it runs

> The Somali Football Federation: founding in 1951, FIFA, CAF and UAFA membership, competitions it runs, leaders, the 2012 and 2017 killings of officials, and its women's strategy.

Source page: https://calankii.com/en/society/somali-football-federation/
Last checked: 2026-11-12
Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com)

## Founding and memberships

The Somali Football Federation was founded in 1951, while southern Somalia was a UN trust territory under Italian administration ([Somali Football Federation, Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somali_Football_Federation)). Sources differ on when it joined the world and African bodies:

- **FIFA:** 1962 by Wikipedia's count; 1963 according to the RSSSF ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somali_Football_Federation); [RSSSF](https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/som-intres.html)).
- **Confederation of African Football (CAF):** 1968 by Wikipedia; 1963 by RSSSF.
- **Union of Arab Football Associations (UAFA):** 1974 ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somali_Football_Federation); [UAFA](https://www.uafa-ac.com/)).

FIFA and CAF each keep a member page for the federation ([FIFA, Somalia](https://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/associations/SOM); [CAF, Somalia](https://www.cafonline.com/member-associations/som/)).

## What it runs

The federation organises the first, second and third divisions, the Somalia Cup (the General Da'ud Cup) and the Super Cup, and manages the men's, women's and youth national teams. It also has futsal and beach soccer programmes and a referees' committee ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somali_Football_Federation); [Football Somalia](https://footballsomalia.so/en/)). It enforces the rules of the game in matches between local clubs.

## Officials killed

- **4 April 2012:** the federation's president, Said Mohamed Nur, and the president of the Somali Olympic Committee, Aden Yabarow Wiish, were among eight people killed when a suicide bomber struck the reopened National Theatre in Mogadishu. The al-Shabaab group said it carried out the attack ([BBC News, 4 April 2012](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-17609047)).
- **August 2017:** executive committee member Osman Jama Diraa was killed in Mogadishu. On 19 August 2017 the federation closed its headquarters for seven days of mourning and stopped all football activity. Its then president, Abdiqani Said Arab, said: "We have lost a great friend and brother who dedicated much of his life to developing the game" ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somali_Football_Federation)).

## Leaders

Wikipedia lists the federation's current officers as president Ali Abdi Mohamed, vice-president Ahmed Takal and general secretary Hussein Aweis Ahmed, with Murad Abdikadir as technical director ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somali_Football_Federation)). Earlier presidents include Said Mohamed Nur (killed 2012) and Abdiqani Said Arab (in office in 2017).

## Referees

FIFA lists Somali international referees. Wikipedia's list includes Bashir Olad Arab (international since 2004), Wiish Hagi Yabarow (since 2011) and Hassan Mohamed Hagi (since 2014), and assistant referee Salah Omar Abukar (since 2001) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somali_Football_Federation); [FIFA referees list](https://www.fifa.com/associations/association=som/footballofficials/referees/peoplekind=ref.html)).

## Women's football

In 2024 the federation held Somalia's first women's football tournament, with FIFA funding, and set out a strategy for a women's league and regional and youth competitions ([FIFA](https://inside.fifa.com/womens-football/news/somalia-womens-football-1st-tournament-covid-19-relief)). Its women's national team played its first match in October 2025.

## Read more

- [Somalia national football team](/en/society/somalia-national-football-team/)
- [Somali First Division](/en/society/somali-first-division/)
- [Women's football in Somalia](/en/society/somali-womens-football/)
- [Somalia Cup and Super Cup](/en/society/somalia-cup/)

---
I want to help with this: email hello@calankii.com. Fix this page: email hello@calankii.com with the page link and your source.