Somalia Upset Bahrain Ahead of Arab Cup

Bahrain slipped to a 1-2 defeat against Somalia last night in a closed-door international friendly at the Bahrain National Stadium, concluding their final on-field test ahead of their FIFA Arab Cup 2025 qualifying play-off against Djibouti on November 26 in Doha.

The match, held without fans or television coverage, formed part of both nations’ preparations for their single-game qualifiers later this month. Somalia will face Oman on the same day, with the winners advancing to the tournament’s group stage.

Bahrain’s loss adds to a difficult stretch in friendly action, following earlier defeats to Egypt, Morocco, and the UAE.

The focus now turns to Doha, where Bahrain will aim to reset momentum and secure their place in Group D of the Arab Cup — a bracket featuring defending champions Algeria, Iraq, and the winner between Lebanon and Sudan.