Somalia Register First International Victory in Six Years with Stunning Upset Over Bahrain

The Somalia national team Ocean Stars have achieved a monumental victory, securing their first win at the international level in six years with a stunning 2-1 upset over hosts Bahrain in a friendly match on Monday.

Played at the Bahrain National Stadium, the match was a preparatory fixture for both teams, but it will be remembered as a landmark moment for the Ocean Stars. The game did not start as planned for the visitors. 

Bahrain, ranked 90th in the latest FIFA rankings, asserted their dominance early and took the lead through Issa Maris.

However, the resilient Somali side, ranked 202nd, fought back bravely. Just before the halftime break, Mohamad Omar found the back of the net to level the score, sending the teams into the tunnel at 1-1.

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In the second half, the home side piled on the pressure, desperately searching for a winner, but they failed to capitalize on their chances. 

The Somali defense held firm, and in a dramatic turn, Issa Adam scored the decisive winning goal for the Ocean Stars. The victory marks Somalia's first international win since December 13, 2019, when they defeated Burundi in a CECAFA Cup match.

This result cannot be overstated. The 112-place gap in the FIFA rankings tells only part of the story. Bahrain are the reigning Gulf Cup Champions, a prestigious title they won by defeating regional powerhouses like Saudi Arabia and Oman.F

or the Ocean Stars to defeat a champion side on their home turf represents one of the biggest upsets in their recent history and a massive boost for the squad.

Both nations used this friendly to prepare for the upcoming FIFA Arab Cup 2025 qualifying matches, which will be held in Qatar later this month. 

Following this confidence-boosting win, Somalia will face a challenging qualifier against Oman on November 26th. Bahrain, conversely, will look to bounce back from the shock defeat when they take on Djibouti.

Other teams from the CECAFA Zone are also involved in the qualification round, including Sudan and South Sudan.

It was a mixed bag of results for other East African teams during this international window. On Saturday, Tanzania lost a narrow 4-3 friendly to Kuwait, while Djibouti suffered a heavy 6-0 defeat at the hands of Morocco.

Looking ahead, two more CECAFA teams are in action on Tuesday: Uganda faces a tough test against hosts Morocco, and Kenya’s Harambee Stars take on Senegal in a neutral-venue friendly in Turkey.