In a striking sign of change, women’s football in Somalia is drawing growing crowds and participation in a country long shaped by conflict and conservative norms.
Hundreds of spectators recently watched an under‑17 women’s match in Mogadishu, a scene that would have been nearly impossible in past years given the influence of the militant group Al‑Shabaab, which previously condemned football — and especially women’s sport — as unacceptable.
Launched in 2024, Somalia’s first organised women’s football championship began with just 80 players. In under two years, that number has surged to around 600 participants across 10 teams representing the capital and other regions, according to officials and observers.
At the recent match, the Ilays women’s team won 5‑0 over Nasiib, but the result was secondary to many fans who see the event as a milestone in social change. “If you were in Mogadishu a couple of years ago, an occasion like this … would not have been possible,” said fan Ali Muhidin, noting the improved security environment and shifting attitudes.
Somali Football Federation president Ali Abdi Mohamed highlighted the rapid evolution of the women’s game in a country where even men once faced restrictions on playing the sport under extremist rule. Despite ongoing cultural resistance, the expansion of women’s football reflects broader shifts in Somali society and growing opportunities for women in public life.
