Jarma Mohamed's football story is anything but ordinary. The 21-year-old midfielder has already experienced the highs and lows of the beautiful game, from training at Liverpool and Manchester City to playing in the eighth tier of English football with Jersey Bulls. Now, he's been recalled to Somalia's national team for their Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Ghana, marking a remarkable chapter in his young career.

Early Beginnings and Youth Career

Mohamed's journey began in his hometown of Liverpool, where his mother, tired of him kicking balls around the house, enrolled him in a local team at just three years old. "My mum was probably fed up with me just booting stuff in the house, so she got me involved as early as I could," he recalls with a laugh. A scout from Everton spotted him playing, and by four, he was part of the Everton youth setup. He later moved to Liverpool at nine and then to Manchester City at 11, rubbing shoulders with talents like Rico Lewis and Nico O'Reilly.

After leaving City, Mohamed earned a scholarship at Wigan Athletic, which he describes as one of his best football memories. "Having a two-year deal, playing day-in, day-out, full-time schedule, staying in digs up in Wigan, travelling up and down the country for away games, performing, picking up the armband a few times, FA Youth Cup, things like that," he says. However, in 2024, he was released by Wigan and found himself at a crossroads.

A New Chapter with Jersey Bulls

Unsure of his next move, Mohamed turned to an app called Player, which connects footballers with clubs. Jersey Bulls, an amateur side in the Isthmian League South Central, discovered him on the platform and reached out. "I know the club's amateur and no-one gets paid, but we worked out a job that aligns with the things that I do, obviously me having Uefa C licence coaching is something that I'd easily do and I've come over and done it," he explains. Now, he works as a youth coach on the island while anchoring the midfield for a Jersey Bulls team that is yet to lose a league game this season.

International Call-Up and Afcon Dreams

Mohamed's Somali heritage, through his grandfather who moved to Liverpool, opened the door to international football. He made his debut for Somalia, ranked 200th in the world, against Mauritius in March. The Ocean Stars won on penalties after two goalless draws, reaching the final qualifying stage for Afcon for the first time in their history. "It was a random Wednesday afternoon in my kitchen and I was made up," Mohamed says of the moment he was asked to join the squad. "I could physically see the community close to home, and going out to the camp and experiencing what that's like, it really lit a fire that I didn't even know I could get as far as trying to push my football career."

Somalia's squad is a melting pot of diaspora talent, with players from the Netherlands, Finland, Italy, and even another Scouser. "When we're all there, and even lads who are local and playing in the Somali league, everyone's just one family," Mohamed says. "That's one thing which we're really good at, we're together as a team, there's no egos."

In their first two qualifiers, Somalia narrowly lost to Gambia and Ivory Coast, but showed they can compete. With security concerns in Somalia, the team plays all home matches away, and will face Ghana in back-to-back matches in Accra. Despite the challenge, Mohamed remains unfazed. "The same way I treat every game, you can only play what's in front of you," he says. "If you play the name or an occasion you're losing before you've even kicked a ball."

As for Somalia's chances of reaching next summer's tournament in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, Mohamed is clear: "If you come to do nothing less than that you may as well stay home. In the two games we've had previously against Ivory Coast and Gambia we've shown that we can compete. If you come to play for the experience or 'we're just happy to be there', then there's no point in coming."

Jarma Mohamed's journey is a testament to resilience, passion, and the power of opportunity. From the streets of Liverpool to the international stage, he continues to defy the odds, one game at a time.