Awad makes Somalia debut

Words: ACFC Media

Monday 21 June 2021

DOHA, Qatar - Mohammed Awad is a Somali international after he made his full competitive debut in a 2-1 defeat to Oman in the FIFA Arab Cup™ today.

Oman's goals came from a Muhsen Al Ghassani opener after 12 minutes and a Salaah Al Yahyaei penalty on 36 minutes while Abel Gigli gave Somalia hope when he scored ten minutes into the second half.

The build-up to the game could not have been more dramatic with the Somali FA sacking coach Abdellatif Salef on the day of their friendly match with Djibouti just three weeks after hiring the Belgian national.

Somalia lost their friendly match with Djibouti by 1-0 with Auckland City FC's Awad making his international bow in a 30 minute appearance.

Unfortunately, it ended Oman 2-1 Somalia, I would have loved seeing Somalia in the final tournament. There are deep football connections between Qatar and Somalia. Akram Afif's dad, Hassan Afif was a Horseed player pic.twitter.com/fWexJR2GBi
— Mohamed El Gharbawy (@Gharbawy) June 20, 2021

Oman's win propels them into the FIFA Arab Cup™ tournament set for December 2021.

Awad, 27, waited patiently for his international chance and told www.aucklandcityfc.com that the experience didn't disappoint.

"It was a big honour to be called up by Somalia so to be able to put that jersey on and give people hope is special for me and I was very grateful to be in such a privileged position.

"Playing for Somalia was a great experience for me - the result didn't go the way we wanted but the game was a good one to be part of.

"I enjoyed the experience a lot," he said.

Auckland City FC coach Figueira was delighted for Awad.

"Mohammed has made his dreams come true with his first international caps and everybody at Kiwitea Street could not be more proud of him.

Somalia National Football Team landed in Doha, Qatar yesterday , we wish them the best in their upcoming match on Sunday. #Somalia pic.twitter.com/4sgSdPqWhP
— Khaatumo Media Office (@KHMediaOffice) June 19, 2021

"It's always a huge honour to represent your country and we wish him all the best as his international career continues to take shape," he said.

Awad's domestic career began with Waikato FC in the now defunct New Zealand Football Championship where he also played for Eastern Suburbs AFC.

He played in Australia for Melbourne Knights and also turned out for Northern League outfit Melville United.

In other matches, Sudan also qualified for the tournament after a 1-0 away win over Libya.

Five more qualifiers will be played over the next week with the FIFA Arab Cup™ finals scheduled for November-December later this year.

To watch the match in full please visit this link courtesy of FIFA.com.

Ends

Match Result
FIFA Arab Cup™ 2021 Qualifiers
Monday 21 June 2021
Oman 2 (Muhsen AL GHASSANI 12', Salaah AL YAHYAEI 36'-pen)
Somalia 1 (Abel GIGLI 54')
HT: 2-0.

SOM: 1. Mustaf MAXAMED (GK), 3. Abel GIGLI, 4. Muxamuud CALI, 5. Axmed SICIID, 6. Liibaan CABDIASIIS (14. Ciise AXMED 65'), 7. Xuseen MAXAMED (2. Zayd MUUSE 46'), 8. Cabisamad CABDULLAAHI (c)(17. Fahad FU'AAD 90+2') , 11. Mohammed AWAD, 15. Saadaw FAYSAL, 16. Cali CABDULQAADIR (9. Anwar SHAKUUNDA 74'), 21. Cumar JAAMAC.

SUBS NOT USED: 20. Cabdiraxmaan JAAMAC, 22. Xasan IBRAAHIM, 13. Yonis CABDIRISAAQ, 19. Cusmaan DAAHIR, 12. Maxamed ABUUKAR, 10. Ismaaciil LIIBAAN, 18. Darmaan XARBI.

COACH: Salaad XASAN.

OTHER RESULTS:

SUNDAY 19 JUNE 2021
Libya 0-1 Sudan

NEXT FIXTURES:

MONDAY 21 JUNE 2021
Jordan v South Sudan

TUESDAY 22 JUNE 2021
Mauritania v Yemen

WEDNESDAY 23 JUNE 2021
Lebanon v Djibouti

THURSDAY 24 JUNE 2021
Palestine v Comoros

FRIDAY 25 JUNE 2021
Bahrain v Kuwait