The Somaliland football team has for the first time, participated in the African Cup of Nations UK 2015. This was a great opportunity for the Somaliland UK Community and their football team to showcase their nation’s aspirations to become full member of the African organisations and their demand for the recognition of their country as independent nation.
20 African countries have qualified for the finals at West Ham Memorial Ground in London and Somaliland was in Group B with Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda and Brundi. Somaliland has topped this group with 9 points from 3 wins and one loss. Brundi came second with 8 points from 2 wins and 2 draws.
Somaliland qualified to the knock out stages and faced a rough Senegal who were out played by the young Somaliland team in most of the game. This game has seen some of the worst moments of the tournament in terms of fouls and injuries as two of the Somaliland’s best stars were taken off the field due to serious injuries sustained from untidy play from the Senegalese players.
Match analysis
Somaliland has taken the lead with a brilliant goal from a wonderful passing moment which eventually ended in the Senegalese net. The first half ended 1-0 to Somaliland but the Senegalese have equalised at the start of the second half with a counter attack after the Somaliland defence failed to anticipate a potential danger.
After this goal it was all Somaliland, attack after attack, but another counter attack with a long ball from the Senegalese half has again unlocked the Somalilnd defence and the big Senegalese number 9 went one and one with the goal keeper who touched the ball into his own net, the referee was first unsure of the goal as the ball went through the net to the crowd, he bowed to the pressure of the Senegalese players and after a long discussion with players and management of both teams, the goal was given. This was a bitter moment for the Somaliland team who were the stars of the tournament but this is football and it is the results that count. Senegal proceeds to the second round but the better team has lost on the day.
After the game, the chairman of the organising committee of the African Nations Cup has congratulated the Somaliland team and management for playing one of the best football in the tournament.
Well done team Somaliland, and thanks to our wonderful supporters, we will go to next year’s tournament wiser and better prepared Insha ALLAH.