AFCON 2021: Gambia Amid Big Guns

Gambia is one of two teams making her debut in the AFCON tourney in Cameroon.

Football is by far the most popular sport, loved by Gambians of all ages and in particular the young. The country’s success on the continent is however limited.

In the last few years, football in Gambia has experienced a considerable rise in popularity in Africa, especially with the increase of talents in the country.

In August 1975, The Gambia entered their first qualification for the African Cup of Nations, with the aim of reaching the 1976 finals in Ethiopia. They were drawn in a two-legged qualifier against Morocco and lost the first leg 3–0 away on August 10. They lost by the same score in their home leg on August 24 and Morocco advanced 6–0 on aggregate.

The AFCON debutantes were in May 2014, banned from all CAF competitions for two years after deliberately falsifying players’ ages.

AFCON Path

The Gambia confirmed their position in the final phase of the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time after they defeated Angola 1-0 on in March. Despite losing their final game to DR Congo, they had done enough picking as many points (10) against; Angola, Congo and Gabon.

Coach

The head coach of The Gambia national team ‘The Scorpions’ – Tom Saintfiet, has done a wonderful job with the team so far. The Belgian tactician has worked in Africa, as national team head – coach for Namibia, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Malawi and Togo.

Saintfiet is yet to win a major tourney worth note on the continent but his steady rise with Namibia in the FIFA rankings from 2008-2010; gaining 30 places upwards, has proven his teams improve as a work in progress.

Star players Gambia

Despite not having striking names on their roster that could wet the appetite on first sight, the Gambia grossly believe in team ethics and a few players with God given ability who could pop up with great performances.

27 year old Assan Ceesay scored some important goals for Gambia in the run to the AFCON. The forward who plays his club football for FC Zurich is blessed with pace and can convert from tight angles as he showed with his goal on match day five of the qualifiers, against Angola.

Musa Barrow, 22, is an immense prodigy who has shown glimpses of how good he can be. Musa Barrow scored the goal that started resurgence for the Gambia against Gabon in the game that eventually ended 2-1 in favor of the Gambia in November.

Veteran Pa Modou Jagne who plays for FC Diekiton in Switzerland aided his team in shielding at the back, as well as he struck with two important goals against DRC. He is equally one for the camera. The Gambia go up against: Tunisia, Mali and Mauritania in group F.