Gambia national football team

Gambia
Nickname(s)	The Scorpions
Association	Gambia Football Federation
Confederation	CAF (Africa)
Sub-confederation	WAFU (West Africa)
Head coach	Tom Saintfiet
Captain	Omar Colley
Most caps	Omar Colley (42)
Top scorer	Musa Barrow (11)
Home stadium	Independence Stadium
FIFA code	GAM
First colours	Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current	150 1 (23 December 2021)
Highest	65 (June 2009)
Lowest	179 (March 2017)
First international
	British Gambia 2–1 Sierra Leone ; (Gambia; 9 February 1953)
Biggest win
	Gambia 6–0 Lesotho ; (Banjul, Gambia; 12 October 2002)
Biggest defeat
	Guinea 8–0 Gambia ; (Guinea; 14 May 1972)
Africa Cup of Nations
Appearances	1 (first in 2021)
Best result	TBD (2021)

The Gambia national football team represents The Gambia in men's international football and is controlled by the Gambia Football Federation. Until 1965, the team and the country, were known as British Gambia. The team has never qualified for the World Cup. In 2021, Gambia qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations finals for the first time in history. The team represents both FIFA and Confederation of African Football (CAF).

History[]

Under the name British Gambia, the team played their first ever game on 9 February 1953 against Sierra Leone, winning 2–1 at home in a friendly.^[3] In April 1963, the team entered the L'Amitié tournament in Senegal, a competition mainly for French-speaking nations. They were drawn in a group with France's amateur team, the Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso) and Gabon. Their first match was lost 5–1 to the French amateurs on 11 April. The Gambia drew 2–2 with the Upper Volta on 13 April, and had the same result the very next day versus Gabon. The Gambia did not advance to the next round.

After the tournament in Senegal, The Gambia did not play another match until 16 November 1968, when they travelled to Sierra Leone to play its team in a friendly and lost 2–1. They played again in Sierra Leone in The Gambia's next match on 24 April 1971, and the hosts won 3–1. On 2 May 1971, The Gambia travelled to Guinea for a friendly and lost 4–2. On 14 May 1972, The Gambia returned to Guinea for their first African Games qualifier and lost 8–0 and were knocked out.

In 1975, The Gambia entered its first qualification campaign for the 1976 Summer Olympics in Canada. They were drawn in a qualifier against Guinea, and lost the first leg 1–0 at home on 27 April 1975. The second leg was lost 6–0 in Guinea on 1 June as Guinea advanced 7–0 on aggregate.

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 10 August. They lost by the same score in their home leg on 24 August and Morocco advanced 6–0 on aggregate.

After the qualification campaign for the 1976 finals, The Gambia played their first match against a full European side, losing a home friendly 4–1 to Denmark on 30 January 1977.^[4]

On 12 October 2002, the team got their biggest ever victory in international competition, a 6–0 victory against Lesotho. ^[5]

In May 2014, The Gambia was banned from all CAF competitions for two years after deliberately falsifying players' ages.^[6]

The nation's fortunes improved in qualification for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. Although they failed to qualify, they took it to the final round of games, including drawing twice with African giants Algeria.

On 13 November, in their first Group D match of 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification, Gambia defeated Angola 1–3 in Luanda. This was The Scorpions first away win in an AFCON or FIFA World Cup qualifier ever, at their 40th attempt.

Home stadium[]

Football fans watching Gambia v Guinea

Independence Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Bakau, Gambia. It is currently used mostly for football matches, although it is also used for music concerts, political events, trade fairs and national celebrations. The stadium holds 30,000 people.^[7]

Recent schedule and results[]

The following is a list of match results from the previous 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

Win Draw Loss

2021[]

25 March 2021 AFCONQ	Gambia	1–0	Angola	Bakau, Gambia
16:00 UTC±0	Ceesay 62'	Report		Stadium: Independence Stadium Referee: Adissa Abdul Ligali (Benin)

29 March 2021 AFCONQ	DR Congo	1–0	Gambia	Kinshasa, DR Congo
17:00 UTC+1	Kasengu 45+2' (pen.)	Report		Stadium: Stade des Martyrs Referee: Amin Mohamed Omar (Egypt)

5 June FIFA Friendly	Niger	0–2	Gambia	Manavgat, Turkey
17:00 UTC±0		Report	Jallow 28' Badamosi 90+1'	Stadium: Arslan Zeki Demirci Sports Complex Referee: Abdulkadir Bitigen (Turkey)

8 June FIFA Friendly	Gambia	1–0	Togo	Manavgat, Turkey
17:00 UTC+3	Gomez 74'	Report		Stadium: Arslan Zeki Demirci Sports Complex Attendance: 0

11 June FIFA Friendly	Kosovo	1–0	Gambia	Manavgat, Turkey
17:00 UTC+3	Hoxha 80'	Report		Stadium: Arslan Zeki Demirci Sports Complex Attendance: 0 Referee: Arda Kardeşler (Turkey)

9 October Friendly	Gambia	1–2	Sierra Leone	El Jadida, Morocco
	Ceesay 22'	Report	K. Kamara 24' Fofanah 42'	Stadium: Stade El Abdi

12 October FIFA Friendly	Gambia	2–1	South Sudan	El Jadida, Morocco
	Ceesay 24', 33'		87'	Stadium: Stade El Abdi

16 November FIFA Friendly	New Zealand	2–0	Gambia	Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
20:00	Wood 36', 66'	Report		Stadium: Zayed Sports City Stadium Referee: Sultan Mohamed Al Hammadi (United Arab Emirates)

2022[]

1 January Friendly

Algeria

Cancelled

Gambia

Qatar

12 January 2021 AFCON	Mauritania	0–1	Gambia	Limbe, Cameroon
17:45		Report	A. Jallow 10'	Stadium: Limbe Stadium Referee: Mustapha Ghorbal (Algeria)

16 January 2021 AFCON	Gambia	1–1	Mali	Limbe, Cameroon
	Mu. Barrow 90' (pen.)	Report	Koné 79' (pen.)	Stadium: Limbe Stadium Referee: (Morocco)

20 January 2021 AFCON	Gambia	1–0	Tunisia	Limbe, Cameroon
20:00	A. Jallow 90+3'	Report		Stadium: Limbe Stadium Referee: (Mexico)

24 January AFCON Round of 16	Guinea	0–1	Gambia	Bafoussam, Cameroon
17:00		Report	Mu. Barrow 71'	Stadium: Kouekong Stadium Referee: Amin Omar (Egypt)

29 January AFCON Quarter Finals	Gambia	v	Cameroon	Douala, Cameroon
17:00		Report		Stadium: Japoma Stadium

21-29 March 2023 AFCON Q preliminary round	Chad	v	Gambia	N'Djamena, Chad
				Stadium: Stade Omnisports Idriss Mahamat Ouya

21-29 March 2023 AFCON Q preliminary round	Gambia	v	Chad	Bakau, Gambia
				Stadium: Independence Stadium

Coaching staff[]

In July 2018, former Togo and Zimbabwe coach Tom Saintfiet, was appointed as head coach. Saintfiet took over from former international Sang Ndong who is now technical director of the Gambia Football Federation (GFF) following the end of his contract in January.^[8]

Head Coach	Tom Saintfiet
Team Manager
Assistant Coach	Alagie Sarr
Assistant Coach
Physical Coach
Goalkeeper Coach
Goalkeeper Coach
Team Doctor
Physiotherapist
Physiotherapist
Equipment Manager
Equipment Manager
International Scout

Coaching history[]

Hans Heiniger (1987–1992)
Sang Ndong (1994–2003)
Antoine Hey (2006–2007)
José Martínez (2007–2008)
Paul Put (2008–2011)
Peter Bonu Johnson (2011–2012)
Luciano Mancini (2012–2013)
Peter Bonu Johnson (2013–2015)
Raoul Savoy (2015)
Sang Ndong (2016–2018)
Tom Saintfiet (2018–present)

Players[]

Current squad[]

The following players were selected for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.

Caps and goals are correct as of 24 January 2022, after the match against Guinea

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Modou Jobe	(1988-10-27) 27 October 1988 (age 33)	29	0	Jeddah
18	1GK	Baboucarr Gaye	(1998-02-24) 24 February 1998 (age 23)	7	0	Rot-Weiß Koblenz
22	1GK	Sheikh Sibi	(1998-02-21) 21 February 1998 (age 23)	3	0	Virtus Verona

13	2DF	Pa Modou Jagne (captain)	(1989-12-26) 26 December 1989 (age 32)	42	2
5	2DF	Omar Colley	(1992-10-24) 24 October 1992 (age 29)	36	0	Sampdoria
25	2DF	Bubacarr Sanneh	(1994-11-14) 14 November 1994 (age 27)	30	1	Unattached
16	2DF	Mohammed Mbye	(1989-06-18) 18 June 1989 (age 32)	15	0	Ifö Bromölla IF
26	2DF	Ibou Touray	(1994-12-24) 24 December 1994 (age 27)	10	0	Salford City
12	2DF	James Gomez	(2001-11-14) 14 November 2001 (age 20)	8	1	AC Horsens
14	2DF	Noah Sonko Sundberg	(1996-06-06) 6 June 1996 (age 25)	8	0	Levski Sofia
21	2DF	Saidy Janko	(1995-10-22) 22 October 1995 (age 26)	5	0	Real Valladolid

15	3MF	Ebrima Sohna	(1988-12-14) 14 December 1988 (age 33)	38	3
3	3MF	Ablie Jallow	(1998-11-14) 14 November 1998 (age 23)	20	5	Seraing
6	3MF	Sulayman Marreh	(1996-01-15) 15 January 1996 (age 26)	27	1	Gent
10	3MF	Musa Barrow	(1998-11-14) 14 November 1998 (age 23)	21	4	Bologna
4	3MF	Dawda Ngum	(1990-09-02) 2 September 1990 (age 31)	19	0	Unattached
11	3MF	Modou Barrow	(1992-10-13) 13 October 1992 (age 29)	17	2	Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
17	4FW	Bubacarr Jobe	(1994-11-21) 21 November 1994 (age 27)	14	3	Norrby IF
2	3MF	Yusupha Bobb	(1996-06-22) 22 June 1996 (age 25)	13	0	Piacenza
28	3MF	Ebou Adams	(1996-01-15) 15 January 1996 (age 26)	11	0	Forest Green Rovers
8	3MF	Ebrima Darboe	(2001-06-06) 6 June 2001 (age 20)	8	0	Roma

9	4FW	Assan Ceesay	(1994-03-17) 17 March 1994 (age 27)	26	11	Zürich
7	4FW	Lamin Jallow	(1994-07-22) 22 July 1994 (age 27)	18	1	Fehérvár
20	4FW	Bubacarr Trawally	(1994-11-10) 10 November 1994 (age 27)	14	0	Ajman
19	4FW	Ebrima Colley	(2000-02-01) 1 February 2000 (age 21)	13	0	Spezia
23	4FW	Muhammed Badamosi	(1998-12-27) 27 December 1998 (age 23)	12	1	Kortrijk
27	4FW	Yusupha Njie	(1994-01-03) 3 January 1994 (age 28)	6	0	Boavista
24	4FW	Dembo Darboe	(1998-08-17) 17 August 1998 (age 23)	3	0	Shakhtyor Soligorsk

Recent call ups[]

The following players have also been called up to the Gambia squad within the last twelve months.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
GK		(2001-03-11) 11 March 2001 (age 20)	0	0	Torns IF	v. New Zealand, 16 November 2021

DF	Leon Guwara	(1996-06-28) 28 June 1996 (age 25)	5	0	Jahn Regensburg	v. New Zealand, 16 November 2021
DF	Maudo Jarjué	(1997-09-30) 30 September 1997 (age 24)	2	0	IF Elfsborg	v. New Zealand, 16 November 2021
DF	Robin Bjørnholm-Jatta	(1994-01-27) 27 January 1994 (age 27)	2	0	Stjørdals-Blink	v. Kosovo, 11 June 2021
DF	Omar Gaye	(1998-09-18) 18 September 1998 (age 23)	3	0	Milsami Orhei	v. Kosovo, 11 June 2021
DF	Muhammed Sanneh	(2000-02-19) 19 February 2000 (age 21)	2	0	Baník Ostrava	v. Kosovo, 11 June 2021

MF	Adama Jarjue	(1997-12-12) 12 December 1997 (age 24)	0	0	Zlatibor Čajetina	v. Kosovo, 11 June 2021
MF	Alasana Manneh	(1998-04-08) 8 April 1998 (age 23)	6	0	Górnik	v. DR Congo, 29 March 2021
MF	Kalifa Manneh	(1998-09-02) 2 September 1998 (age 23)	1	0	Perugia	v. DR Congo, 29 March 2021

FW	Nuha Marong	(1993-06-16) 16 June 1993 (age 28)	4	0	Recreativo Granada	v. Kosovo, 11 June 2021
FW	Aboubakary Kanté	(1994-08-11) 11 August 1994 (age 27)	2	0	Fuenlabrada	v. Kosovo, 11 June 2021
FW	Musa Juwara	(2001-12-26) 26 December 2001 (age 20)	4	0	Crotone	v. Kosovo, 11 June 2021
FW	Abdoulie Sanyang	(1999-05-08) 8 May 1999 (age 22)	4	0	Beerschot	v. DR Congo, 29 March 2021
FW	Ali Sowe	(1994-06-14) 14 June 1994 (age 27)	5	0	Rostov	v. Djibouti, 9 October 2019
^WD Player withdrew from the squad due to non-injury issue. ^INJ Player withdrew from the squad due to an injury. ^PRE Preliminary squad. ^RET Player has retired from international football. ^SUS Suspended from the national team.

Records[]

As of 24 January 2022^[9]

Players in bold are still active with Gambia.

Most appearances
Rank	Player	Caps	Goals	Career
1	Pa Modou Jagne	42	2	2006–present
2	Ebrima Sohna	38	3	2007–present
3	Omar Colley	36	0	2012–present
4	Abdou Jammeh	33	2	2006–2015
5	Bubacarr Sanneh	30	1	2012–present
6	Modou Jobe	29	0	2007–present
7	Sulayman Marreh	27	1	2011–present
8	Assan Ceesay	26	11	2013–present
8	Mustapha Jarju	26	5	2006–2013
10	Ebrima Ebou Sillah	24	3	1996–2008

Top goalscorers
Rank	Player	Goals	Caps	Ratio	Career
1	Assan Ceesay	11	26	0.42	2013–present
2	Momoudou Ceesay	6	16	0.38	2010–2015
3		5	11	0.45	1995–2002
	Jatto Ceesay	5	17	0.29	1994–2007
	Ablie Jallow	5	20	0.25	2015–present
	Mustapha Jarju	5	26	0.19	2006–2013
7	Musa Barrow	4	21	0.19	2018–present
8	Samuel Kargbo	3	9	0.33	1994–1996
	Bubacarr Jobe	3	14	0.21	2018–present
	Njogu Demba-Nyrén	3	15	0.2	2006–2011
	Edrissa Sonko	3	16	0.19	1996–2008
	Aziz Corr Nyang	3	17	0.18	2002–2011
	Mamadou Danso	3	20	0.15	2011–2019
	Ebrima Ebou Sillah	3	24	0.13	1996–2008
	Ebrima Sohna	3	38	0.08	2007–present

Competitive record[]

World Cup[]

FIFA World Cup record									FIFA World Cup Qualification record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1930	Part of United Kingdom								Part of United Kingdom
1934
1938
1950
1954
1958
1962
1966
1970	Did not enter								Did not enter
1974
1978
1982	Did not qualify								2	0	1	1	2	1
1986	Did not qualify								2	1	0	1	3	6
1990	Did not enter								Did not enter
1994	Withdrew								Withdrew
1998	Did not qualify								2	1	0	1	2	5
2002									2	0	0	2	0	3
2006									2	1	0	1	2	3
2010									6	2	3	1	6	3
2014									6	1	1	4	4	11
2018									2	0	1	1	2	3
2022									2	0	0	2	1	3
2026	To be determined								To be determined
Total	–	0/22	–	–	–	–	–	–	26	6	6	14	22	38

Africa Cup of Nations[]

Africa Cup of Nations record
Host nation(s) / Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA
1957 to 1963	Part of United Kingdom
1965	Not affiliated to CAF
1968 to 1974	Did not enter
1976	Did not qualify
1978	Did not enter
1980 to 1988	Did not qualify
1990	Withdrew
1992	Did not qualify
1994	Did not enter
1996	Withdrew during qualifying
1998	Banned for withdrawing in 1996
2000	Withdrew
2002 to 2013	Did not qualify
2015	Banned
2017	Did not qualify
2019	Did not qualify
2021	Qualified
2023	To be determined
2025	To be determined
Total	–	1/33	–	–	–	–	–	–

Honours[]

Amilcar Cabral Cup :

Runners-up (3)

References[]

^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 23 December 2021. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 25 January 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
^ "World Football Elo Ratings: Gambia". World Football Elo Rankings. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
^ "Gambia – List of International Matches". Rsssf.com. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
^ "Gambia v Lesotho, 13 October 2002". 11v11.com.
^ "The Gambia disqualified from all Caf competitions". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 23 September 2013. Retrieved 27 August 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^ "Tom Saintfiet named new Gambia coach". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 18 July 2018. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
^ "Gambia". National Football Teams.

External links[]

Official Gambian federation website

[FIFA_World_Rankings-1] "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 23 December 2021. Retrieved 23 December 2021.

[World_Football_Elo_Ratings-2] Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 25 January 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2022.

[3] "World Football Elo Ratings: Gambia". World Football Elo Rankings. Retrieved 19 September 2019.

[4] "Gambia – List of International Matches". Rsssf.com. Retrieved 20 April 2012.

[5] "Gambia v Lesotho, 13 October 2002". 11v11.com.

[6] "The Gambia disqualified from all Caf competitions". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 May 2014.

[7] "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 23 September 2013. Retrieved 27 August 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

[8] "Tom Saintfiet named new Gambia coach". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 18 July 2018. Retrieved 17 October 2018.

[9] "Gambia". National Football Teams.

[1]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

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