Somali government ministers, MPs and other well wishers are due to receive the Somali national U 17 soccer squad at Mogadishu airport on Tuesday upon their return from Kenya where the Somali youngsters played their second leg of the CAF youth championships qualifying match against Kenya over the weekend, sports ministry announced.

Acting minister fort youth and sports Khadija Mohamed Diriye who talked to reporters in Mogadishu on Sunday afternoon praised the Somali U 17 squad members for their efforts to hold up the Somali flag and the country’s dignity after they qualified for the second round of CAF youth championships slated for next year in Rwanda.

 

“I have just come from the president and Prime minister and they gave me the permission to thank for our U 17 football team on their behalf and I am proud of carrying this strong message from Somali leaders” the acting minister said.

 

She said that her ministry formed a national level committee to give the team a warm welcome at Mogadishu’s Aden Adde International airport on Tuesday.

 

“The U 17 scored a national success for the whole country and in particular I am feeling my biggest ever pleasure since I took over the ministry several months ago after our former minister was killed in a suicide explosion in Mogadishu” she stated.

 

She said that Somali government is also sending warm regards to the government, people and the football federation authorities In Djibouti who allowed Somalia to train and host international matches there since insecurity here is preventing Somali football federation to host international competitions in the country.

 

“Our team performed well in the last two meetings against Kenya and I am hopeful that in the next competitions they will play much better than they have done” Somalia’s acting minister for youth and Sports said during her Sunday’s press conference in Mogadishu.

 

The African Youth championships finals will be held in Rwanda next year.

 

Somali Football Media Department

 

+2521 600000 Tell Office

+2521 600601 Fax

 

Email:somalifootballmedia@gmail.com