Saturday April 5, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somalia’s U-17 Africa Cup of Nations campaign came to a premature end on Friday, as the Ocean Stars suffered their second consecutive defeat — a 5-1 thrashing at the hands of Gambia — at the Stade Ben Ahmed El Abdi. The result, following an earlier 3-0 loss to Tunisia in their Group C opener, leaves Somalia rooted to the bottom of the group with zero points and no path to the knockout stage.
The loss marks a disappointing outcome for a side that entered its second consecutive AFCON appearance with measured optimism, having qualified through a third-place finish at the CECAFA regional tournament. Yet despite flashes of individual promise, the step up to the continental level once again proved unforgiving.
It was a punishing afternoon for the Ocean Stars, who struggled to contain a fluid and clinical Gambian attack led by Alieu Drammeh, whose hat trick headlined a dominant performance. An own goal by Liban Kalif Mohamed and a stoppage-time strike by Bisenty Mendy completed the rout. Anas Isse Mohamed’s second-half effort offered brief hope but ultimately proved no more than consolation.
The Young Scorpions took control early. Drammeh converted a penalty in the fourth minute after Alagie Baba was brought down in the box. He doubled the lead in the 16th minute, latching onto a headed assist from Bubacarr Suso and finishing coolly past the Somali keeper. On the stroke of halftime, Kalif’s attempted clearance deflected into his own net, sending Somalia into the break trailing 3-0.
To their credit, Somalia came out with renewed purpose after halftime. In the 52nd minute, Isse pounced on a loose ball inside the penalty area, calmly slotting it home to bring the score to 3-1. It was Somalia’s second-ever goal in a U-17 AFCON, building on their historic 1-1 draw with Congo in 2023.
But the Gambia never lost their grip. Drammeh completed his hat-trick in the 76th minute, rising unmarked to head in a corner from Muhammed Danso. Mendy added a fifth in stoppage time with a tidy finish on the counter.
Somalia, who qualified for the tournament after finishing third at the CECAFA U-17 Championship, arrived in Morocco with cautious optimism and a largely rebuilt squad. Under coach Nuur Maxamed’s tactical blueprint—focused on compact structure and fluid transitions—the Ocean Stars showed promise but were ultimately undone by their inexperience and lapses in defensive organization.
Highly regarded talents such as midfielder Farhan Isaq and forward Sakariye Maxamuud entered the tournament as ones to watch, but struggled to influence matches under sustained pressure. Gambia’s pressing game neutralized Somalia’s midfield, and chances in the final third were few and far between.
Now out of contention, Somalia will close their campaign on Monday against reigning champions Senegal, a final opportunity to salvage pride and gain valuable experience. While the scorelines have been harsh, the exposure on this stage is a vital step for a nation still building its youth football infrastructure.
Gambia’s emphatic victory keeps them in the race for a knockout berth, with their decisive clash against Tunisia set to determine Group C’s hierarchy.
Match Summary:
Final Score: Gambia 5–1 Somalia
Gambia Scorers: Drammeh (4’, 16’, 76’), Liban Kalif OG (45’), Mendy (90+2’)
Somalia Scorer: Anas Isse Mohamed (52’)
Next Fixture: Somalia vs. Senegal – Monday, April 7
