Mogadishu, (InsideSomalia.org) Somali football fans amid security problems in the capital followed the African Cup of Nations either from the BBC World Service or through the digital television receivers.

"Until the final whistle being blown were watching the television screen in the house of one of our neighbors in Howlwadag district of Mogadishu” said Abdulaahi Ahmed 16 year old student who was said that he was terribly happy when the Egyptian Pharaohs beat Cameroon in Accra, the Ghanaian capital.

"We could not take to the streets after Egypt's victory because streets are not safe and nobody dare come out in the night in Mogadishu, even we could not cheer or erupt into a discord of noise or blur a light.. You will be shot dead" said one of Mogadishu sports fans clapping for the Egyptian team who won the African Cup of Nations a record sixth time after Sunday's 1-0 defeat against Cameroon known as "The Lions".

"The Egyptians deserved to win , they had done well" said Abdihafid Za'imka, a well-known sports commentator in Mogadishu who said that he had came a long way from Hamarwein district to Howlwadag to get access of a digital receiver to watch the final match of Sunday between Egypt and Cameroon.

Some Football fans in Mogadishu firmly supported Cameroon whose national team became known to Somali football lovers in 1990 when reached the second round of World Cup in Italy where Rogger Miller was the oldest player of the tournament.

"I believed that the lions will crash Hassan Shahata's team but the ball's color is black and white, I expected that Cameroon will win" said Mohamed Nur, a middle aged businessman in Mogadishu.

Large number of people in the capital had less chance on tournament or had no idea about it because the current developments in the capital including violence and on going fighting between allied Somali government and Ethiopian troops against insurgents.

The fighting which claimed the life of about 6,000 people and displaced more than one million others, as indicated reports by the United Nations and local human rights groups.

"I think it is not suitable for us watch football amid we are watching real live confrontations on daily bases" Faduma Abdi, 33 years old mother who lost her only son last after a mortar shell battered their home in Heliwaa district of Mogadishu where most of the fiercest fighting occur.

Somalia's football team suffers from no grass roots infrastructure, proper training facilities and lack of investment to compete at highest level. All the stadiums have been destroyed or are being used for other means; the national stadium is used as military base by Ethiopian Army. National Stadium looks like scene out of Lord of War with Nicolas Cage.

Compared to other countries in Africa whose players managed to break into best leagues such as in England's Premiership and Spain's La Liga, Somalia footballers don't have opportunity to practice their trade at highest level.

Most of the Somali Football team takes part in East & Central African play-offs and competition of the Arab league countries but with limited success.

Before the civil war Somalia had 8 big football teams with utmost experienced players and illustrious coaches. Those known celebrated Somali football clubs were: Horseed club, Mogadishu, Jeenyo, Wagad, Waxool, Batroolka, Badda, and Madbaca.

After the civil war all known football clubs collapsed and new clubs emerged and the best one is Elman Football Club sponsored by World Concern, an international NGO.

Elman Football is the only team being paid and the team tours around the regions of the country earning player with higher qualities to play for the team.

Elderly football icons who themselves influenced by ongoing conflict, unemployment and the social problems existing in Somalia had established an association to support Somali Football players.

As noted by the new chairman of the Union Abdulahi Siyad, former midfielder of Madbacadda team and a coach, the aim of this association is to acquire a strong Somali National team.

"Instead of fighting with guns, we are trying to give young people and country in general to put their energy on the field".

In a country forgotten by world community, people such as Abdullahi Siyad are trying to piece together some normality and bring "hope". It is highly admiring considering situation on the ground.

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