Somalia women's national basketball team

The Somalia women's national basketball team represents Somalia in international competitions. It is administered by the Somali Basketball Federation.[2]

For the men's team, see Somalia men's national basketball team.

Somalia
FIBA rankingNR (21 August 2023)[1]
Joined FIBA1960
FIBA zoneFIBA Africa
National federationSomali Basketball Federation
CoachMohamed Sheekh
AfroBasket
Appearances2
Medals Silver: 1979

History

In 2006, the Somali Islamic Courts Union (ICU) which briefly ruled Somalia imposed a ban on women's sports.[3]

2011 Pan Arab Games

On 8 December 2011, the Somalia women's national basketball team had a 90–24 loss to the Egypt women's national basketball team in the Pan Arab Games at Doha.[4][5] The Somali team trained at the Mogadishu Police Academy. Despite being the second most popular sport in Somalia, women's participation in basketball was opposed by some. The women had to travel to their training in burkas, playing their games in tracksuits with towels covering their heads.[6] The team received death threats from Islamic extremist group Al-Shaabab.[5]

On 12 December 2011, Somalia won against hosts Qatar 67–57, in what CNN called a "hotly contested match".[7] Others noted that the victory had put Somali women "on par with football" in opposing the suppression of sports for both men and women.[3]

AfroBasket record

Key players

Player Manal Cali received an award at an event in London organised by the Somali Federation of Sports Associations for her role in the team.[8]

References
  1. "FIBA Ranking Presented by Nike". FIBA. 21 August 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  2. FIBA National Federations – Somalia, fiba.com, accessed 25 July 2016.
  3. Dorsey, James M. (6 January 2012). "Somali women ballers team defeats jihadists". Hurriyet Daily News. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  4. "Somalia National Team News". Afro Basket. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
  5. "Somalia women proud despite heavy defeat". Biyokulule Online. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
  6. Dürr, Benjamin (16 December 2011). "Arab Games: Die mutigen Basketballerinnen aus Somalia". Die Zeit (in German). Retrieved 13 November 2017.
  7. Kermeliotis, Teo (22 December 2011). "Somali women defy danger to write basketball history". CNN. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  8. "News: Xaflad looga hadlayay u adeegida danta guud ayaa lagu qabtey magaalada London" (in Somali). Somali Youth Development Organization. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
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