Dekedda SC defeated Heegan SC 80-64 at Mogadishu's Wiish Stadium to win the 2026 General Daud Cup on Saturday night, as competitive basketball returned to Somalia after more than 35 years. The eight-team event was organised by the Somali Basketball Federation.
The federation said competitive basketball had not been played at Wiish Stadium, one of the country's most important sporting venues, for decades. In the women's tournament the final also took place at the same venue, though details were not provided in the report.
Speaker of Somalia's parliament Abdulkadir Mohamed Jama attended the final and presented the championship trophy to Dekedda SC after their victory. Also present were Youth and Sports Minister Mohamed Abduqadir Ali and Mogadishu Port General Manager Ambassador Mohamed Ali Nur, alongside tournament officials.
The tournament carried an international flavour, with French and Kenyan referees among those overseeing the competition. The Somali Basketball Federation is rebuilding the national team and seeking to attract Somali-born players from the diaspora, while working towards a return to continental and global basketball.
The revival of evening games was driven by federation secretary general Abdirahman "Koshin" Abditawab, who worked with the federation's president and officials to turn the idea of restoring night-time basketball into a full tournament. Clubs, referees, volunteers, security personnel, media teams and event partners all contributed to staging the event.
