Somalia earned their first point of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers with a disciplined defensive performance in a goalless draw against Guinea at the Stade Alassane Ouattara in Abidjan. It was a result that few predicted, and even fewer believed it would be possible once the match unfolded.
At the heart of this defensive masterclass stood Abdirahman Maamaan — a name that may not echo in the halls of European football, but on Friday night at the Stade Alassane Ouattara, he was a giant. The 25-year-old keeper turned away wave after wave of Guinean pressure, producing no fewer than 13 saves, including a sprawling stop from a point-blank Serhou Guirassy effort midway through the second half.
Guinea, stacked with top-flight talent from the Bundesliga, Ligue 1, and La Liga, dictated tempo and territory. François Kamano found space, Issiaga Sylla overlapped with menace, and Mohamed Ali Camara offered a threat on set pieces — yet none could beat Somalia’s last line of defence. In the 30th minute, Camara’s thumping volley from a loose corner was parried wide by Maamaan’s outstretched gloves, setting the tone for the rest of the night.
The Ocean Stars, meanwhile, were content to absorb and break. Their best moment came when 18-year-old Yusuf Ahmed, playing in only his third international cap, skipped behind the Guinean backline in the 75th minute but saw his shot drift narrowly wide.
Despite finishing with just 34% possession, Somalia’s organization and discipline belied their underdog status. Fullback Yonis Farah threw in a crucial tackle to deny Guirassy a tap-in, while skipper Ahmed Abdi marshalled the backline with veteran calm.
For Guinea, the draw is a significant setback. What was supposed to be a routine three points now leaves the Syli National five points adrift of Group G leaders Algeria and Mozambique — both sitting on 12 points. With an away trip to Uganda next, Guinea’s qualification ambitions are under threat.
Somalia, bottom of the table but no longer pointless, will take this performance as a validation of progress. From a team with four straight defeats to a side capable of standing toe-to-toe with continental heavyweights, this result may mark a turning point.
They travel next to Botswana on Tuesday, a fixture that once seemed unwinnable — now, suddenly, it looks like an opportunity.
