Coach Bashiru Hayford leads Somalia to historic World Cup qualifier win after 35 years

Ghanaian coach Bashiru Hayford led lowest-ranked African side Somalia to a historic victory on Thursday over Zimbabwe in the 2022 World Cup qualifier.

The win was Somalia’s first qualifying victory in 35 years.

The former Black Queens coach was brought in last year to lead the team to earn their prominence after battling war which has been the country’s biggest setback in years.

The Ocean Stars managed a 1-0 win over the 2019 Nations Cup campaigners to earn their first qualifying win since they defeated Kenya in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying in 1984 for their first-ever in a World Cup qualifying campaign, and their first win of any kind since January 2009.

The game was played on neutral grounds in Djibouti due to the ongoing security issues in Mogadishu, to leave themselves with much work to do heading into Sunday’s second leg in Bulawayo.

The Warriors will be seeking revenge in the second leg when they welcome Bashiru Hayford’s lads in Bulawayo next week.

Watch video of the goal below

We are now 2 hours away from kickoff and the link is now ready. ????????????????????????????????https://t.co/J8Qc8NVTCX

— Somali News Updates (@Somaliweyn_) September 5, 2019

Game winning goal vs Zimbabwe. Somalia has done it. We won ???????????????????????????????????????? pic.twitter.com/DtIMC42ycd

— Somali News Updates (@Somaliweyn_) September 5, 2019