Charismatic Ghanaian coach Bashiru Hayford made big continental history on Thursday when he led the lowest ranked African side Somalia to their first qualifying victory in 35 years with a shock win over Zimbabwe in the 2022 World Cup qualifier.
The sharp-tongued trainer, who was hired just last year to revive the fortunes of the war-ravaged country, caused the biggest shock yet of the qualifiers when he led the Ocean Stars to a 1-0 win over the 2019 Nations Cup campaigners on Thursday.
The victory was Somali’s first in a qualifying game since they defeated Kenya in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying in 1984, their first ever in a World Cup qualifying campaign, and their first win of any kind since January 2009.
The Warriors, who were eliminated in the group stage of the Afcon in Egypt this summer, were defeated by Bashir Hayford’s Ocean Stars in neutral Djibouti, the designated venue amidst ongoing security issues in Mogadishu, to leave themselves with much work to do heading into Sunday’s second leg in Bulawayo.
The first-leg of the qualifier was played in Djibouti as Somalia is still not hosting international matches because of the instability.
The second leg will be played in Bulawayo next week.
Watch video of the goal below
Game winning goal vs Zimbabwe. Somalia has done it. We won ?????????? pic.twitter.com/DtIMC42ycd
— Somali News Updates (@Somaliweyn_) September 5, 2019
Somalia is the joint lowest-ranked in Africa as the civil war has negatively affected the growth of the game in the country.
However attempts have been made by the President of the FA Abdi Gani to revive the game including the resumption of the league which has now produced players for international matches.
Watch video of the celebrations after the win below
Celebrations and cheerful moments as the final is blown Djibouti, SOMALIA beats Zimbabwe in the World Cup qualifier match. pic.twitter.com/oe4GYWSMKq
— Ahmed Kosar (@AhmedKosar1) September 5, 2019
They hired for the former Asante Kotoko and Ghana's female national team boss Hayford to lead the revival attempts and the Ghanaian looks to have hit the ground running with the result.
The victory is the first in 14 years for the Somalis in 14 years as the regional CECAFA tournament in 2005.
Their last friendly victory was against Djibouti in 2008.