Kenyan Abubakar handed Djibouti youth football rest mandate

Kenyan coach Abdirahman Ali Abubakar has been appointed head coach of Djibouti’s U-17 and U-20 national teams, a clear statement of intent by the Djiboutian Football Federation to fix a failing youth system.

At 27, Abubakar is not arriving to learn—he’s expected to deliver. Armed with a CAF ‘A’ License earned in 2024, he has already built a reputation across Somalia’s top tier with stints at Mogadishu City Club, Horseed SC, and Elman SC.

His biggest test yet came in the CAF Champions League qualifiers, where his Mogadishu City side pushed Kenya Police FC to the limit before exiting on away goals.

Djibouti’s problems are well documented. The U-17s finished bottom in the 2025 CECAFA qualifiers, losing all matches, including an 11-0 defeat to Tanzania.

The U-20s have not fared any better, routinely falling short against regional rivals like Uganda national under-20 football team and Tanzania national under-206 football team.

This appointment is not about long-term promises—it’s about immediate correction. Abubakar’s grassroots background, including coaching courses in northern Kenya, suggests he understands player development, but results will define him here.

He walks into a setup low on confidence and short on structure. The expectation is simple: make Djibouti competitive again, cut the heavy losses, and show progress in CECAFA tournaments