CAF Champions League: Mogadishu Coach on How Kenya is Reshaping Somalian Football After Nearly Shocking Kenya Police

Mogadishu City FC head coach Abdirahman Ali has opened up on how Kenyan influence is helping to reshape football in Somalia after his side came agonisingly close to eliminating Kenya Police FC from the CAF Champions League preliminary rounds.

Mogadishu lost 3-1 in the first leg at Nyayo Stadium but bounced back to win 2-0 in the return leg at the same venue last Sunday. The result left the tie level at 3-3 on aggregate, with Police sneaking through on the away goals rule.

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Ali, who is Kenyan, revealed that coaches and players with roots in Kenya are leaving their mark in Somalia by introducing new tactical ideas and raising competitiveness in the league.

“We have some Kenyans and Somali-Kenyans. When I graduated from Kenya, I wanted to take my knowledge there,” Ali told Pulse Sports.

The trend has been evident across Somali clubs on the continent. Dekedaha SC, for instance, are coached by Kenyan tactician Abdirahman Hashi Hussein and knocked out Al Zamala to reach the CAF Confederation Cup second round.

“If you look at the other Somali team in the Continental Stage, they knocked out a South Sudanese team, and their coach is also Somali-Kenyan,” Ali explained.

“I am sure this will elevate East African football. Having foreign players from outside Somalia elevates the rest of the league. These players have helped raise our game, and that is exactly what we want.”

Despite the second-leg win, Ali admitted his side’s slow start in the first leg proved costly.

“It is part of the game. You can perform well but lose. We lost on away goals, but I loved the performance we put in today. We should have played this way last week and it could have helped us, but it is what it is.”

Ali was also critical of Police’s style, pointing out how his high-pressing strategy in the second leg almost paid off.

“Police possess the ball but they are slow and lethargic. If you give them space, they punish you, and that is what happened in the first leg. Today, we wanted to press them high knowing they would make mistakes, and we capitalised on them, but ultimately, it was not enough.”

Ali, who guided Mogadishu to the league title last season, believes the continental outings have enriched him as a tactician.

“I have learnt a lot. Last season I was in the CAF Confederation Cup, and this year I was in the Champions League. I know this experience will help me achieve my objectives of winning a league title here or elsewhere.”