Horn Affric Soccer: From Streets to CAF U-17 Glory
In the narrow, dust-choked alleys of Mogadishu’s favelas, where dreams often stall under the weight of hardship, a different kind of revolution took root—a revolution of hope, carried on the soles of young boys chasing worn-out footballs.
What began as a grassroots movement—Horn Affric Soccer—is today transforming the future of Somali youth, stitching together the frayed edges of ambition and opportunity. From these chaotic street matches emerged not just players, but a new national spirit, now recognized on continental stages like the CAF U-17 Championship.
The Birth of a Vision
In the heart of Mogadishu, amid bomb-scarred walls and bustling markets, informal games became breeding grounds for raw talent. Recognizing this untapped reservoir, Coach Awil Hersi Tahlil envisioned a structure where street-born instinct could meet disciplined training.
Awil’s method was simple but revolutionary: blend unrefined passion with professional techniques. His early drills—carried out on makeshift fields of packed earth—focused not on erasing street instincts but sharpening them. Within a year, 70% of his first trainees graduated to formal academies.
“We’re not just building players,” Awil says. “We’re rebuilding futures.”
Horn Affric Soccer: Mission and Method
Horn Affric Soccer built its program on a three-tier system:
Street Recruitment: Scouts identified adaptable, quick-thinking players in community matches.
Academy Training: Selected players entered structured environments like Tayo Youth Academy, gaining access to turf pitches, nutrition programs, and bi-weekly skill assessments.
National Team Pipeline: The best talents rose to national prominence, many for the first time in Somalia’s recent history.
The goals stretch beyond football: reducing youth dropout rates through mentorship, forging partnerships with schools, and scaling the program to Uganda, Kenya, and Ethiopia by 2025.
Beyond Football: A Community Transformed
Horn Affric Soccer’s impact ripples beyond the pitch. Local leaders credit the program with helping reduce youth crime rates in participating neighborhoods by 18%. Educational outcomes have improved too, with football scholarships tied to school attendance motivating students to stay in class.
Community centers in Mogadishu now double as football hubs and tutoring spaces. Parents, once skeptical of sports as a viable career path, attend workshops to understand the academic and athletic opportunities their children can pursue.
“When football opens the door to education, real change begins,” says Amina Warsame, a teacher at one of the affiliated schools.
Horn Affric Soccer is not just creating athletes; it’s nurturing future leaders, scholars, and role models.
Abdiqani: A Star from the Streets
Among the project’s shining stars is Abdiqani, a 14-year-old with a knack for turning chaos into opportunity on the field. Spotted during a gritty neighborhood tournament, his journey mirrors Horn Affric’s ambitions.
Starting with improvised street play (where his dribble success rate hovered around 60%), Abdiqani progressed through academy phases, mastering technical drills to reach 85% passing accuracy.
Abdiqani’s CAF U-17 Championship Performance
| Metric | Group Stage | Quarterfinals |
|---|---|---|
| Pass Accuracy | 78% | 82% |
| Shots on Target | 3 | 5 |
| Defensive Interceptions | 2 per game | 4 per game |
His development was no accident. Personalized coaching, relentless drills, and community support systems kept him from faltering under pressure.
“Scouts now benchmark East African talents against Abdiqani’s trajectory,” Awil notes proudly.
Challenges Faced by Horn Affric Soccer
Despite its impressive progress, Horn Affric Soccer has faced formidable challenges.
Funding remains inconsistent, relying heavily on donations and occasional grants. Political instability has also disrupted training sessions, forcing organizers to adapt schedules and secure safer venues.
Facilities are another major hurdle. Many players still train on uneven dirt fields, risking injury. Coach Awil highlights the urgent need for better infrastructure:
“If we can give them safe grounds, we’ll see even greater miracles,” he insists.
Yet through determination and community resilience, the program has not just survived—it has thrived.
Horn Affric Soccer’s Expansion into Uganda
Horn Affric Soccer’s vision doesn’t stop at Somalia’s borders. By 2025, the program aims to take its winning formula to neighboring Uganda, a country with a rich football culture and a growing pool of untapped talent.
Why Uganda?
Uganda’s love for football is legendary. From Kampala’s buzzing local leagues to vibrant community tournaments in places like Gulu and Mbarara, the country offers fertile ground for Horn Affric Soccer’s model of grassroots transformation.
Building a New Future
The first step? Collaborating with existing youth academies like the KCCA Soccer Academy and building partnerships with community centers. The Horn Affric team plans to bring their proven three-tier system—street scouting, academy training, and national exposure—to Ugandan streets and villages.
Coach Awil emphasizes the importance of adapting the program to local needs:
“In Uganda, the passion is there. What’s needed is structure and opportunity. Just like in Mogadishu, we will work with the community first. We are not just building players—we are building futures,” he says.
By setting up pilot programs in Uganda, Horn Affric Soccer hopes to create a regional pipeline of young talent. With Uganda’s proximity to major East African football tournaments and scouts regularly visiting Kampala, the move could fast-track the dreams of hundreds of young players across the region.
If successful, the Uganda expansion will serve as a blueprint for scaling into Kenya, Ethiopia, and beyond, solidifying Horn Affric Soccer’s place as a pan-African movement for youth empowerment through football.
A Glimpse of Tomorrow
The Horn Affric Soccer Foundation’s five-year plan is bold:
Secure U-20 and U-23 opportunities for rising stars like Abdiqani.
Launch a girls’ development program by 2026.
Forge links with European academies through CAF scouting networks, targeting collaborations with clubs in Belgium and the Netherlands.
Cement a senior national team pipeline by 2027.
Expand operations across East Africa, starting with Uganda, Kenya, and Ethiopia.
By 2030, Horn Affric Soccer envisions a network of youth academies, senior teams, and educational programs creating pathways to professional careers—and brighter futures.
Conclusion: Dreams Without Borders
Horn Affric Soccer has proven that even in the most challenging environments, dreams can thrive. With every match played on a dusty street and every goal scored on a rocky field, Somali youth are rewriting their futures.
And as the movement expands into Uganda and beyond, it’s clear: this is just the beginning. The beautiful game has no borders—only endless possibilities.
