This is the 7th time since 2012; the SFF is
asking African Union to move its forces from the facility so that it can be
returned to the hands of the federation for its proper use.
The call was made by Somali Football Federation senior
vice president, Ali Abdi Mohamed, as he addressed at the farewell party held
for Somalia’s U-23 national squad before flying to Rwanda on Wednesday, for the
preliminary clash of 2016 Rio De Janerio Olympic Games qualifiers.
"SFF has several times demanded for the troop withdrawals from Stadium Mogadishu and today we here by sending another strong call to African Union and we say to them please vacate your troops from the national facility” the SFF senior vice president accentuated.
"I hope that our minister for youth and sport who is with
us here today will hardly push for the withdrawals of African Union peacekeepers
from Stadium Mogadishu” added Somali FA’s second man.
Built with Chinese aid in 1978, the 70,000-seat facility was
rarely used by the Somali FA since the country fell into anarchy just 24 years ago.
It changed hands several times since 1993 when it was base for American troops
in Somalia.
2007-2009, it was home to thousands of Ethiopian troops
who invaded Somalia to defeat the once powerful Islamic Courts Union, before it
was occupied by Al-Shabab in January 2009. Finally from 7 August 2011, the facility has been home to
thousands of African Union Peacekeepers helping the federal government of
Somalia.
For the past several years, Somali FA officials have
repeatedly been calling on African Union to give the facility back to them, but
still AU military has been reluctant to the SFF words.
Somali Football Federation Media Department
Email:info@somsoccer.com