Somalia coach resigns to fate ahead of Rwanda clash
The Somalia U-23 head coach, Charles Mbabazi has admitted that his side cannot overcome Rwanda in the CAF U-23 qualifier first leg clash scheduled for Saturday at Amahoro stadium.
Speaking exclusively to Times Sport, Mbabazi revealed that, “We came to honour this fixture but to be honest we are not ready. We just want to go there and enjoy our game. We know we are going to lose.”
Due to the ongoing insurgence in Somalia, it has not been possible to hold a training camp for the Junior Ocean Stars but Mbabazi conducted two training sessions yesterday at the FERWAFA grounds. The Somali delegation arrived in Kigali on Wednesday.
“We have not been in camp. Everyone knows what is happening in Somalia. The league is not so good and players do not train every day. They only train twice a week for their clubs, but there is hope and in five years we might be ok. FIFA has been very helpful,” explained the Ugandan tactician.
Mbabazi also pointed out that his side is struggling with adjusting to the weather conditions in Kigali. He said, “We are finding a challenge with the weather because it is very cold here compared to Somalia where it is very hot.”
The return leg will be played on May 9 in Nairobi and the winner will meet Uganda and the victor of that tie will meet Egypt. The winner will then qualify for the CAF U-23 tournament scheduled to be held from December 5-19 in Senegal.
Somalia Team list:
Hassan Abdinur Gesey, Abdinasir Yusuf Ahmed, Hamsa Mohamed Mukhtar, Bile Muhudin Burale, Mohamed Salah Hussein, Abdikarim Abdalla Mohamud, Ahmed Mohamed Hussein, Mustaf Khalib Hussein, Abas Amin Mohamed, Hassan Hussein Mohamed, Hassan Ibrahim Ali, Mahad Muhudin Haji, Hassan Farid Hassan, Mohamed Ali Ibrahim, Osman Yusuf Hajow, Abukar Abdikarim Nur, Ali Hassan Babay, Abdifatah Abdi Osman, Abdulahi Nur Ali, Abdulahi Abdirahman Jama.
