Dekedda SC don defeat Heegan SC 80-64 for Wiish Stadium inside Mogadishu to collect di 2026 General Daud Cup on Saturday night, as competitive basketball come back to Somalia afta more dan 35 years. Di eight-team event na di Somali Basketball Federation arrange am.
Di federation talk say competitive basketball no don play for Wiish Stadium, one of di country biggest sporting venues, for plenti decades now. For di women own tournament, di final also hold for di same venue, even though di report no give details.
Speaker of Somalia parliament Abdulkadir Mohamed Jama attend di final and present di championship trophy to Dekedda SC afta dia victory. Youth and Sports Minister Mohamed Abduqadir Ali and Mogadishu Port General Manager Ambassador Mohamed Ali Nur also dey ground, plus tournament officials.
Di tournament get international flavour, as French and Kenyan referees dey among those wey oversee di competition. Di Somali Basketball Federation dey rebuild di national team and dey try attract Somali-born players from di diaspora, as dem dey work to return to continental and global basketball.
Di return of evening games na di work of federation secretary general Abdirahman "Koshin" Abditawab, wey work with di federation president and officials to turn di idea of bringing back night-time basketball into one full tournament. Clubs, referees, volunteers, security people, media teams and event partners all contribute to stage di event.
