Kampala, Uganda – Na dem dey prepare to change their story! Somalia national football team, wey dem dey call Ocean Stars, don start serious training ahead of dia crucial FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier wey go happen on September 5 against Guinea. As matches dey approach, this clash no be small thing o, as dem dey fight to escape bottom of Group G wey get Algeria, Mozambique, Botswana, and Uganda.
For dia last match wey don pass in March for Cote d'Ivoire, both teams no fit score, as dem draw 0-0. Now, Guinea dey sit for fifth position while Somalia dey chilling for sixth. Na wah! (E be like say dem need better juju for this match o.)
Somalia national team don turn wahala into good matter as dem dey represent diaspora talents wey don come back home to shine. E get plenty players wey born abroad, and na dem dey bring fresh ideas and skills join the Ocean Stars. Na head coach Yusuf Ali Nur dey ginger dis new generation wey wan turn their luck around, because abeg, di last start no too sweet.
As dem dey train for Kampala, dem also dey prepare for FIFA Arab Cup qualifiers where dem go face Oman for Qatar in November. If dem win, dem go join big name teams like Morocco and Saudi Arabia for di main tournament. No be small dream o! (Na so dem go show dem how e be.)
For ground, di roster dey packed with better international talents. One name wey stand out na Mohamed Omar wey dey play for San Antonio FC for US. Him dey join Ali Musse wey dey burst net for Cavalry FC, after dem name am Player of the Month for August. Other foreign-based stars na Yasir Abdiqadir Sa’Ad from Norway, Faisal Othman wey dey play for Saudi league, Handwalla Bwana wey dey show pepper for South Georgia Tormenta FC, and Abdi Sharif wey be former youth talent from Liverpool. Na serious squad!
Recently, Handwalla Bwana don join di team again for di second time. Dis boy know wetin e dey do, as he come from Mombasa, Kenya, and e get passion wey dey come from im papa wey don play ball for Somalia. E don travel plenty from refugee camp to Atlanta, and now, e don settle down for Seattle. Bwana win di MLS Cup for 2019 with Seattle Sounders, and now him dey represent hia country. People dey hail am as e show pride for im Somali heritage.
No forget, dem dey line up two Group G matches wey go dey on ESPN+. Di last matches go be against Algeria on October 6 and Mozambique on October 13. All eyes go dey on dem as dem dey try bring home Victory! We dey wish dem all di best o, make dem go shine like star!
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