Wednesday March 26, 2025
Somalia head coach Yusuf Ali Nur walks off the pitch following his team’s 2-0 defeat to Botswana in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier at Obed Itani Chilume Stadium in Francistown, March 25, 2025. Nur cited defensive mistakes as the key factor behind the loss. CREDIT: SFF
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somalia's hopes of securing their first win in FIFA World Cup qualifying were dealt another blow on Tuesday after a 2-0 defeat to Botswana, with head coach Yusuf Ali Nur attributing the loss to costly defensive mistakes in the second half.
The Group G clash at Obed Itani Chilume Stadium remained goalless for over 70 minutes, with Somalia showing signs of growing defensive discipline. But the Ocean Stars were undone late, conceding twice—first through Gape Mohutsiwa in the 74th minute, and then Mothusi Johnson in the 84th—both goals stemming from lapses in organization and positioning.
"We lost; this is football; anything can happen," Nur said in his post-match interview. "In the first game, we drew against Guinea, but [today] the main problem is our mistakes in defence."
Despite the setback, Nur emphasized that the team remains committed to learning from each performance as part of a long-term rebuilding process.
"As one of the teams participating in the group stages of the FIFA World Cup qualification, we wanted to play a good game against Botswana," Nur said.
The result leaves Somalia rooted to the bottom of Group G with one point from six matches. Botswana, meanwhile, moved up to third with nine points, bolstering their campaign as they look ahead to a September fixture against group leaders Algeria.
Botswana coach Morena Ramoreboli hailed the result as a building block toward developing a more consistent team, praising the late-game composure and execution of his players.
Somalia had entered Tuesday's fixture buoyed by a historic draw against Guinea—a match that marked their first-ever point in FIFA World Cup qualifying. Against Botswana, they again showed stretches of disciplined play, particularly in the first half, when their shape and concentration limited the Zebras' attacking threat.
However, depth and fatigue remain issues. Several key players in Somalia's lineup—including goalkeeper Abdirahman Mohamud Jama and winger Abdinasir Ahmed—are part of a broader effort by the Somali Football Federation to integrate diaspora talent and rebuild a team around youth and international exposure.
The campaign has already seen moments of symbolic progress, but results remain elusive. With four matches left in the group stage, including a return leg against Guinea in September, Somalia will look to build on recent improvements and search for a first-ever World Cup qualifying victory.
Algeria leads the group with 15 points after a commanding 5-1 win over Mozambique on the same night. Mozambique follows with 12 points, while Botswana and Uganda are at a level of nine. Guinea sits fifth with seven points, and Somalia remains sixth with one.
Somalia is scheduled to host Guinea when qualifying resumes in September.
Only the group winner qualifies automatically for the 2026 World Cup, while the runner-up may advance to a playoff.