MOGADISHU (Halbeeg News) – Abdiqani Said Arab has been elected for the second term as the Somali FA President following an election held on Friday in the Somali capital, Mogadishu.
The leader who won unopposed poll will lead the federation for the next four years before the members organize another election.
Abdigani had been the leader of the Somali Football Federation since 2014 after almost a decade as the Secretary-General.
The incumbent was handed another term by the office by delegates after no one expressed interest in challenging him.
Abdiqani is regarded as the most successful FA president after taking charge four years ago
The new mandate will see him stay in office until 2022 after the event was supervised by CAF delegate Suleiman Waberi.
Abdiqani’s development programmes for Somalia FA have been widely hailed culminating in him being crowned as the African Football leader of the year 2015 at the Caf Glo awards ceremony in Abuja.
The recognition was the culmination of his efforts in helping build the game in the country and it was a satisfying moment for Abdiqani to be recognized in a gathering that represents the best of football on the African continent.
It has not been an easy journey for the federation with unstable political conditions and war that has raged on since the overthrowing of former president Siad Barre.
The Somalia football federation under President Abdigani has soldiered on despite so many odds against them and their development has been the talk of not only in the region but across Africa.
Passion, commitment and love of the game has seen Somalia wake up from the deep slumber as they focus and take shape in football development.
Organised under the motto of “Improving the Game by Learning from the Best,” Somalia has successfully managed to organize a football league that has actually attracted over 26 foreign players.
Abdiqani was recognized by Caf as the leader of the year because of his dedication to football and the professional organization of football development programs that protected thousands of Somali youths from falling into the hands of notorious criminals in the country.
That was an amazing achievement especially in the era of terror group Al Shabaab recruiting the youth.
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