Somalia to field women's national team in major tournament for first time in decades

Somalia is set to make history by fielding a women's national football team in a major regional competition for the first time in decades, marking a significant milestone for the country's sporting landscape.

The Somalia women's national team, known as the Ocean Queens, will compete in the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations, or CECAFA, Women's Cup in Tanzania.

Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre has described this breakthrough moment as a symbol of resilience, progress, and renewed hope for Somali sports.

In a message shared on X, Barre celebrated the team's historic participation, saying the Ocean Queens will carry the national flag onto the regional stage and inspire a new generation of young girls across the country.

For the first time in decades, Somalia will be represented by a women's national team on the sporting stage.

Our beloved Ocean Queens will carry our flag into the CECAFA Women’s Cup in Tanzania, standing shoulder to shoulder with some of the region’s strongest teams as they… pic.twitter.com/Yao3zS8kY6

— Hamza Abdi Barre (@HamzaAbdiBarre) June 13, 2026

"This is more than football," the Prime Minister said, describing the achievement as proof that perseverance can triumph over adversity after years of conflict, instability, and limited sporting opportunities.

He credited sports officials, coaches, and athletes for keeping the dream alive, noting that the debut of the Ocean Queens signals a new chapter for women's football in Somalia.

The milestone marks the culmination of a long and arduous journey for women's athletics in the country.

For decades, institutional challenges, conflict, and deep-seated cultural constraints severely restricted women from participating in organised sports.

Political and security instability, particularly interference from militant groups that frowned upon public entertainment and female athletics, meant that structured football programs for women were virtually nonexistent.

A gradual shift began only recently, driven by a series of dedicated initiatives by the Somali Football Federation.

In early 2024, the federation organised the first formal women's football activities in Mogadishu to commemorate International Women's Day.

Later that year, the country held its first-ever women's football tournament, laying the groundwork for a broader national strategy to recruit and train female players across different regions.

By late 2025, the senior national squad took its first major step onto the international stage when players travelled to Djibouti for historic friendly matches.

The ongoing tournament in Tanzania represents the culmination of these grassroots campaigns and international workshops designed to change perceptions and secure parental support for young athletes.