The Somaliland national football team (Arabic: الاتحاد الصوماليلاند لكرة القدم) is the football team that represents Somaliland, a self-declared republic that is internationally recognized as a de facto state. Although Somaliland is a de facto state, it has not yet received international de jure recognition. Somaliland is not a member of FIFA and CAF; it is, instead, an associate member of ConIFA, an association established in 2014 of teams from dependencies, unrecognised states, minorities, stateless peoples and regions that are not affiliated with FIFA.
History
The Somaliland Football Association currently runs a national league which consists of 12 semi-professional clubs sponsored or backed by both public and private organisations. The Association also holds a bi-annual inter-regional football tournament, in which all 13 regions participate in groups stages held across the country, with the final 4 group winners contesting the semi-finals in the capital Hargeisa.
The Somaliland national team was founded in 2014 and their first international match was a 2-2 draw against Sealand, which was played on 17 May 2014 in London, England.
2016 ConIFA World Football Cup
Following ConIFA's annual conference, the Somaliland national team was invited to compete at the 2016 ConIFA World Football Cup (hosted by Abkhazia), which became their first appearance at an international tournament.
Somaliland were drawn into Group D alongside Panjab and Sápmi. Somaliland lost their opening game against Sápmi with a scoreline of 5-0, and they lost again to Panjab 5-0, resulting in Somaliland finishing bottom of Group D.
In the Placement round 1, Somaliland won 3-2 against Chagos Islands to advance to the Placement round 2, and in their Placement round 2 match against Székely Land, Somaliland lost 3-10 to see them place tenth out of twelve teams.
2025 Somaliland Recognition Bid and FIFA application
Somaliland being recognized by various nations on media such as UK and USA would mean stronger FIFA application as a country, Somaliland would play in CAF and in CECAFA in african football, Somaliland may Join Fifa in 2025 after being recognized as a separate country, and its FIFA application is pending recognition.
Stadium
Hargeysa National Stadium is the home of the national team, and the stadium has a capacity of 30,000.
Coaches
Current squad
Association officials
Historical kits
Sources:
See also
- Somaliland
References
External links
- Official website in Facebook
- Somaliland Champions League Official website in Facebook
