The president of Somali Football Federation and CECAFA vice president,
Abdiqani Said Arab, has been crowned as the African Football leader of the
year, after receiving the prestigious award during the Glo awards ceremony
in Abuja, Nigeria over night on Thursday.

The president has been recognized as the leader of the year because of his
dedication to football and the professional organization of football
development programs that protected thousands of Somali youths from
falling into the hands of notorious criminals in the country.

In his opening address of the Glo awards ceremony, CAF president and FIFA
acting president, Issa Hayatou, commended Somali FA president for the good organization of football activities back in his war-devastated country of
Somalia.

“A special salute this year goes to the president of the Somali Football
Federation, Abdiqani Said Arab, honored in the [leader of the year]
category. In a very complex context, he succeeds to continue hoisting
football as a vector of peace, a rallying factor, a cause of hope for the
Somali youth” CAF president Issa Hayatou said in his opening address.

After receiving the award, SFF president Abdiqani Said Arab, said that
such high profile recognition was marking a great honor and publicity for
him, his federation members and the entire people of Somalia.

“On behalf of Somali Football family, I would like to thank CAF president
Issa Hayatou and his executive committee for honoring Somalia to have such
high level award. Somalia has gained this victory with a team work, so
thanks to my executive committee members, the secretariat and the
stakeholders for their cooperation” president Abdiqani Said Arab noted.

“I take this opportunity to thank CAF Secretary General, Hicham El Amrani
and his team for being fully aware of what is going on around the
continent and particularly in Somalia” president Abdiqani Said Arab
explained.

The president said that receiving this award was encouraging him and
members of the SFF to redouble the football-related development programs
in the country.

“Knowing the difficulty situation in the country, we are committed to
increasing our efforts until we realize our dreams of approaching a higher
level than we are today” Somali Football Federation president, Abdiqani
Said Arab said.

Collins Okinyo

Ex- CAF Media Expert. An expert on African football with over 15 years experience ,always with an ear to the ground with indepth knowledge of the game. I have worked for top publications including 7 years at www.supersport.com until i founded www.soka25east.com to quench the thirst of football lovers across the continent. I have trained young upcoming journalists who are now a voice in African football.I have covered World Cup,AFCON,CHAN,Champions League,Confederations Cup,Cecafa,Cosafa,Wafu and many other football tournaments across the World. Founder Football Africa Arena(FAA),Founder www.afrisportdigital.com