Hiiraan Online

 

Dekedaha SC's starting lineup poses before their historic CAF Champions League match, where they secured a thrilling 5-4 aggregate victory over AS Arta, marking a major milestone for Somali football.

Mogadishu (HOL) — Dekedaha Sports Club made history on Friday, becoming the first Somali team in 36 years to advance to the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League.

Dekedaha SC secured a historic victory on Friday at the Azam Sports Complex in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, overcoming Djibouti's AS Arta with a thrilling 5-4 aggregate score. Despite a hat-trick from Ghanaian-born Gabriel Dadzie in the second leg, Dekedaha narrowly lost 4-3. However, their 2-0 victory in the first leg on August 16 ensured their progression. The match was packed with drama, including a late red card and a 90th-minute goal by Omar Mohamed Mahamoud of AS Arta, but Dekedaha held firm to advance and make history.

Dekedaha's win marks a watershed moment in the story of Somali football, a sport that has battled for recognition against the country's off-pitch challenges. A Somali team last reached this stage in 1988, when Wagad FC advanced before being eliminated by Sudan's Al Hilal with a 7-1 aggregate loss. Dekedaha SC can make history by advancing to the group stages of Africa's premier club competition for the first time.

But the journey ahead won't be easy. Dekedda SC is set to face Tunisia's Esperance de Tunis in September, a team with a decorated history and a reputation for being one of Africa's most formidable clubs. The matchup will be a true test of Dekedda's spirit, pitting them against a side that has won multiple CAF Champions League titles.

Dekedaha SC, having already cemented their domestic supremacy with a 4-1 rout of Horseed FC to claim the Somali Premier League title, now looks poised to translate that success onto the continental stage.