By Sports Reporter/Doha
Djibouti’s U-17 women’s national football squad have knocked down their Qatari rivals in the Arab women’s tourney opener at Al Arabi Stadium in Doha on Sunday.
In the early minutes of the first half, Fatouma Elmi Rayaleh who captains the team scored the opener goal for Djibouti, while Mazer Fouad Abdallah scored the second goal with the first half ending in 2-0 in favour of Djibouti.
In the second half, Qatar tried to compensate for the goals, but Djibouti’s Coach Fatouma Moussa Dirieh changed her system of play by putting more attackers into the field, as Mazer Fouad Abdallah caused Qatar to lose hopes when she scored two goals in the second half.
However, Mazer Fouad Abdallah, who dominated most of the game, said she was very happy to lead her country to a greater victory in her first international appearance.
“I was really very proud of scoring three goals in my first international appearance—this was good national representation for me” Mazer Fouad Abdallah told CECAFA media during an interview from her hotel in Doha after the match on Sunday.
Djibouti’s women’s national team coach, Fatouma Moussa Dirieh, said it was a very memorable day for her country to do such victory against Qatar who is one of the wealthiest countries in the world.
“Although I had less than three months of preparation, I have more confidence in my girls and I hope we will do well in our next matches” Fatouma Moussa Dirieh said in a telephone conversation with CECAFA media.
Djibouti Football Federation president Souleiman Hassan Waberi who is expected in Doha on Monday, congratulated his youngsters on how well they represented their country before international audience.
The president promised bonus for the young shoulders, praising the president of the nation Ismail Omar Guelleh for his role in football promotion in the country.
“On behalf of the nation’s football family, I am very grateful to our president Ismail Omar Guelleh and the minister for youth and sport Badoul Hassan Badoul for their encouragement and helping us score such victory for the nation” FDF president Souleiman Hassan Waberi said in a press statement on Sunday evening.
