Somalia stakeholders want FIFA to speed up FA investigation ‘to protect football’s future’
July 27 – Somali football stakeholders have reiterated their calls for FIFA’s immediate intervention to ensure that the Somalia Football Federation (SFF) elections are conducted and that they are conducted as part of a “transparent, legitimate, and credible electoral process”.
Somali football has been embroiled in factional wars over allegations that the current president of the FIFA-recognised SFF, Ali Abdi Mohamed (pictured), is using his position to suspend members who do not agree with him, and is using his position as police captain to intimidate and intimidate opposition supporters.
In June 2026 the congress majority voted for Mohamed in favor of Omar Mohamoud Nor (Muganbe) as Acting President.
FIFA then intervened, saying it would conduct an investigation into the election and keep Ali Abdi Mohamed in office.
Opponents of Abdi Mohamed say that “after a year, no final decision or findings have been announced, leaving the dispute unresolved and creating uncertainty in Somali football.”
Abdi Mohamed is a member of the executive committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), vice president of the African regional association, the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA), and sits on the FIFA Grassroots and Amateur Football Committee.
FIFA has warned the Somali government that it will suspend the country’s membership if it interferes in the federation’s business.
In a new statement by the participants against Abdi Mohamed, they said: “There are serious allegations that the current president has taken measures to take revenge on members of Congress who voted for his removal from office. It is suspected that the election committee was appointed in a manner that does not comply with the SFF Laws and without the necessary independence to ensure a credible election process. These allegations have raised the concerns of stakeholders about the upcoming elections.”
They say that FIFA is always informed about the situation but they are worried that the inaction of FIFA and its investigators increases the failure of management.
Drawing parallels with other African countries where FIFA has acted quickly to solve problems, the statement says they “do not want special treatment, but rather the equal application of FIFA’s principles of good governance, transparency and timely intervention to all member organizations.”
“For Somali football to move forward, it is important that the electoral process is conducted in full compliance with the SFF Rules and the principles of transparency, accountability, independence, and fairness. Any election conducted while the fundamental constitutional disputes remain unresolved risks undermining confidence in the governance of Somali football and damaging the credibility of its institutions,” the statement said.
“The interests of Somali football, its players, clubs, member associations, and fans must always come before individual interests. A transparent, legitimate, and credible electoral process is essential to restore trust, protect democratic governance, and secure the future of football in Somalia.”
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