Written by By Hawa Nor Osman, Bilan Media
In Somalia, no one imagines the positions of a football player, a referee, or a mechanic, let alone a woman doing them. The culture has blocked women from doing those jobs for ages. However, Ubax Maxamuud Ali is a 23-year-old woman from Somalia who has managed to break the norms by playing football, officiating it, and even doing vehicle repairs. She has done all the three jobs, which, for the better part, have been done by men. Her life is a chronicled tale of bravery and determination, and showcases what a Somali woman has become in the domain of sports and other technical fields.
2022 – Looking for Employment Outside the Country
In 2022, Ubax spent two years in Kenya trying to look for a job. This experience opened her eyes to the overall issues Somali women face in relation to employment and professional growth, both domestically and internationally.
First Steps on the Pitch is a stage of life that all aspiring football players go through. “I used to be a player,” Ubax said. In 2018, she became a member of Somalia’s first ever women’s football team, which is a big milestone. Previously, there was practically no aid for women football of any kind. Many women during that time suffered from additional social discrimination, no proper football facilities, and poor training standards. A woman footballer, particularly a Somali woman, faces very serious problems in a competitive set up,” is a quote by FIFA and Africa Women Football. “As a woman, in Somalia, there are no proper organized tournaments, few women football teams, and the infrastructure for women football is less than what is available for men football.”
Ubax tackles such issues from the beginning, with no intention of allowing societal views of her goals to slow her down.
2024 – From Player to Referee
After many years as a player, Ubax had the desire to tackle the challenge of being a referee.
“I became a player and had the dream of being a referee because of my desire to make a positive change in women’s football in my country,” she says.
Even though she’s faced the question, “Why is a woman a referee?”, her response is, “My dreams far outweigh the things I have to go through”.
Her choice is a testimony to not only her resolve, but the influence of FIFA and other governing bodies of the game in the regions in question, which have focused on assisting women to gain access to such roles.
2025 – Learning Mechanics
Back to Mogadishu, she faced a challenge that many other Somali women similarly face: a lack of job opportunities. Therefore she decided to specialise in mechanics – an area which is not common among women in her country.
“Being a mechanic is the only available option because of the high rate of unemployment in the country,” she says.
“My journey began with fixing Bajaj motorbikes and thereafter started working on bigger vehicles. While people tend to react with disbelief when they see a woman working in this field, some encourage me, saying, ‘You are the first woman mechanic in Somalia,’” she explains.
Ubax has also acquired other important skills over the years, such as working on electrical systems and repairing engines. “It is true that there is great demand placed on a mechanic, but owing to the amount of knowledge that I have acquired, there is also great pleasure to be found, and to my instructors, a great deal of appreciation is owed,” she adds.
Ubah Mohamoud, a mechanic & football referee, is shattering stereotypes in male dominated fields showing that skill has no gender. An inspiration to Somali girls everywhere. #WomenInSports #BreakTheBias pic.twitter.com/jiGd4u19uz
— Bilan Media (@MediaBilan) August 10, 2025
2024 2025 – The Rise Of An Influencer
Ubax has now become a source of influence and motivation in Somalia and around the world.
Her motivating message to women is: “You can do anything. Do not let people dishearten you. If men can do it, you can do it too”.
Her story also points to persistent issues like the small number of women-only teams, unfinished tournaments, and poor infrastructure. However, the gradual growth of women’s clubs and international sponsorship give hope for Somali women athletes of the future.
A Story Of Hope
The story of Ubax Maxamuud is a story of resilience, creativity and hard work. She’s one of the few representatives of the younger generation willing to break the stereotype that Somali women can’t thrive at the intersection of sports and technical fields. Her experiences tell us that with a strong sense of conviction and hardwork, there can be a radical change in one’s prospects and social standards.
And as for her remarkable achievements in the most difficult conditions – well, they display that with mentorship and opportunity, there is no limit to what women can accomplish.
Top photo: Pictured – Ubax Maxamuud Cali, Source: Bilan Media