Veteran sports administrator Hassan Mohamed Mahmoud, who also served as an international referee, died after a long illnes, according to a dispatch from the football association. The nature of his illness was not revealed and his body was laid to rest in Mogadishu after Fridays prayers in accordance with the Islamic rites.

The president of Somali football federation, Abdiqani Said Arab, his deputies, Ali Abdi Mohamed and Abdullahi Sheik Nur Ahmed, members of the executive committee and the secretariat members condoled with his family before burial.

Mr Arab said Somalia will greatly miss the services of the man he described as football administrator, an instructor and a great friend.

The Federation has declared that its flag will fly at half-mast at its headquarters and all football facilities in the country for three days as the nation’s football fraternity mourns the death.

The news of his death reverberated across the country and the Horn with the president of Djibouti Football Federation Souleiman Hassan Waberi condoling with Somalia.

In a letter to the Somali football Federation, Mr Waberi, who is also the Vice President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), said he felt heart-broken with the news of the former referee.

"I knew him for more than 25 years. He was my closest friend in Somali football. I have lost a great friend and a very fine man,” he said in the letter to the federation. "Please pass my condolence to the family and friends and the entire Somali people.”

Until his death, Mahmoud was member of CAF’s organizing committee for Africa Nations Championship. He also served as Somali football federation general secretary 2014-2018, while previously serving as deputy general secretary for more than 16 years.