Wednesday March 12, 2025
Yusuf Ali Nur has been appointed as the new head coach of Somalia’s national football team, taking charge ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The Somali Football Federation (SFF) hopes Nur’s leadership will bring stability and a competitive edge to the Ocean Stars as they face Guinea and Botswana in their upcoming matches. CREDIT/ SFF
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somalia's national football team has appointed Yusuf Ali Nur as head coach ahead of crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Guinea and Botswana later this month. The move follows the departure of Moroccan coach Rachid Lousteque, who led the Ocean Stars for two seasons but failed to make a significant impact.
Ali Nur, who guided Dekedda Sports Club to three Somali Premier League titles in 2017, 2018 and 2019, will be tasked with rejuvenating a national side that sits bottom of Group G after four consecutive losses in the campaign. With zero points and a -7 goal difference, Somalia is already in danger of early elimination, making these next fixtures pivotal for restoring credibility.
In the ongoing qualifiers, Somalia has conceded nine goals in four matches, including a 3-1 defeat to Botswana and a 2-1 loss to Mozambique. Their last competitive victory came in 2022, and under Lousteque, defensive frailties continued to undermine any attacking progress.
Ali Nur's appointment reflects the Somali Football Federation's (SFF) shift toward local coaching talent, inspired partly by the U17 national team's success in reaching the 2023 Africa U17 Cup of Nations. However, coaching in the domestic league and leading an internationally struggling national team are vastly different challenges.
His immediate objective will be to tighten Somalia's defence and secure their first point in the World Cup qualifiers. The following two fixtures will be a stern test:
- March 22 – Somalia faces Guinea away in Conakry. Guinea, coached by Michel Dussuyer, has already announced a strong 23-man squad for their qualifying matches against Uganda and Somalia.
- March 25 – Somalia travels to Botswana for the return fixture, needing redemption after their 3-1 defeat in June 2024.
While World Cup qualification remains a distant dream, Somalia's focus must now shift toward long-term rebuilding. The Ocean Stars have struggled to translate grassroots successinto senior-level consistency, and the recent withdrawal of their African Nations Championship qualifiers only added to the program's uncertainty.
The next two matches will set the tone for Somalia's footballing future. A competitive performance against Guinea and Botswana could provide a foundation for progress, while another set of heavy defeats may only deepen the nation's footballing crisis.
Can Ali Nur be the catalyst for change, or will Somalia's woes continue?