Gambia national football team

Gambia
Association Gambia Football Federation
Sub-confederation WAFU (West Africa)
Confederation CAF (Africa)
Head coach Sang Ndong
Captain Omar Colley
Home stadium Independence Stadium
FIFA code GAM
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 168 Decrease 1 (5 May 2016)
Highest 65 (June 2009)
Lowest 169 (February 2015)
Elo ranking
Current 124 (9 July 2014)
Highest 93 (January 1984)
Lowest 145 (22 November 1993)
First international
The Gambia British Gambia 3–2 Senegal 
(Gambia; 5 December 1962)
Biggest win
The Gambia Gambia 6–0 Lesotho 
(Banjul, Gambia; 12 October 2002)
Biggest defeat
 Guinea 8–0 Gambia The Gambia
(Guinea; 14 May 1972)

The Gambia national football team, nicknamed The Scorpions, is the national team of the Gambia and is controlled by the Gambia Football Federation. Until 1965, the team, and the country, were known as British Gambia. It has never qualified for the World Cup or the Africa Cup of Nations finals.

History

Under the name British Gambia, the team played their first ever game on 5 December 1962, beating neighbouring Senegal 3-2 at home in a friendly. 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 football at 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.[1]

The Gambia's most famous player is Biri Biri, who starred for Sevilla FC in the 1970s.

In May 2014, The Gambia was banned from all CAF competitions for two years after deliberately falsifying players' ages.[2]

Home stadium

Independence Stadium (Bakau) 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.[3]

Football fans watching Gambia v Guinea

Gambia Football Achievements

Amilcar Cabral Cup :
  • 3 Times Runners-up

World Cup record

2018 FIFA World Cup qualification

Gambia were drawn in the first qualifying round against Namibia and were eliminated following a 1-1 draw[4] in Banjul and 1-2 defeat[5] in Windhoek.


9 October 2015 (2015-10-09)
17:00 UTC±0
Gambia  1–1  Namibia
Jammeh  78' Report (FIFA)
Report (CAF)
Stephanus  61'
Independence Stadium, Bakau
Referee: Ousmane Karembe (Mali)

13 October 2015 (2015-10-13)
16:00 UTC+2
Namibia  2–1  Gambia
Stephanus  42'
Somaeb  63'
Report (FIFA)
Report (CAF)
Dibba  10'
Sam Nujoma Stadium, Windhoek
Referee: Joshua Bondo (Botswana)

Namibia won 3–2 on aggregate and advanced to the second round against Guinea.

Africa Cup of Nations record

2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification

The draw put Gambia in group M with South Africa, Cameroon and Mauritania. The team drew their first game away in South Africa 0-0,[6] but lost their first home game against Cameroon 0–1[7] thanks to a goal by Vincent Aboubakar.

In the double-header of qualifiers in March 2016, Gambia lost 1-2[8] against Mauritania in Nouakchott which featured a first international goal for Mustapha Carayol before drawing 0-0[9] against the same team four days later in Banjul. Gambia will next face South Africa at home in June 2016 before playing their last qualification match away against Cameroon in September of the same year.

Results and Fixtures


6 September 2015 (2015-09-06)
16:30 UTC±0
Gambia  0–1  Cameroon
Report Aboubakar  65'

25 March 2016 (2016-03-25)
16:30 UTC±0
Mauritania  2–1  Gambia
Moulaye Ahmed  36', 90+5' Report Carayol  65'
Stade Olympique, Nouakchott
Referee: Isaac Montgomery (Liberia)

29 March 2016 (2016-03-29)
16:30 UTC±0
Gambia  0–0  Mauritania
Report

35 June 2016 (2016-06)
Gambia  v  South Africa
Report

24 September 2016 (2016-09)
Cameroon  v  Gambia
Report

Coaching staff

Former national team goalkeeper and national team head coach Sang Ndong was re-appointed into the role of head coach in February 2016.[11][12] He has also spent time as technical director with the GFF previously and has stepped in as interim coach of the Scorpions on several occasions in the past. His appointment was a show of support for local coaches and introduced a process of rebuilding and rebranding the national team.[13][14]

Head Coach The Gambia Sang Ndong
Assistant Coach The Gambia Mattar M'Boge
Assistant Coach The Gambia Alhagie Sarr
Goalkeeping coach The Gambia Alhagie Marong
Team Doctor Egypt Dr Emad Al Radwan
Physiotherapist The Gambia Wandifa Ceesay
Equipment Manager The Gambia Amadou LS Jaiteh

Current squad

The Gambia's players were called for the 2017 African Cup of Nations qualification double-header against Mauritania on 25 and 29 March 2016.[15]

0#0 Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Modou Jobe (1988-10-27) October 27, 1988 5 0 Senegal ASC Niarry Tally
18 1GK Christopher Allen (1989-12-19) December 19, 1989 8 0 The Gambia Gambia Ports Authority
20 2DF Bubacarr Sanneh (1994-11-14) November 14, 1994 2 0 Denmark AC Horsens
15 2DF Omar Colley (1992-10-24) October 24, 1992 9 0 Sweden Djurgårdens IF
13 2DF Kebba Ceesay (1987-11-14) November 14, 1987 11 0 Poland Lech Poznań
5 2DF Gregory Sambou (1994-10-25) October 25, 1994 2 0 The Gambia Gambia Ports Authority
6 3MF Mass Manga (1995-01-01) January 1, 1995 2 0 The Gambia Banjul Hawks FC
17 2DF Alieu Jatta (1995-09-18) September 18, 1995 1 0 Senegal Génération Foot
3 2DF Ibou Touray (1994-12-24) December 24, 1994 2 0 Wales Rhyl F.C.
4 3MF Kaba Sambou (1996-04-20) April 20, 1996 4 0 Senegal Stade de Mbour
2 3MF Hamza Barry (1994-10-15) October 15, 1994 7 0 Israel Hapoel Tel Aviv
7 3MF Lamin Charty (1996-04-08) April 8, 1996 3 0 The Gambia Banjul Hawks FC
23 3MF Alagie Bah (1994-01-16) January 16, 1994 1 0 The Gambia Real de Banjul FC
8 3MF Demba Savage (1988-06-17) June 17, 1988 12 1 Sweden BK Häcken
12 3MF Muhammed Conteh (1996-03-31) March 31, 1996 1 0 Senegal Mbour Petite Côte
11 3MF Mustapha Carayol (1988-09-04) September 4, 1988 3 1 England Leeds United
9 4FW Omar Jagne (1992-06-10) June 10, 1992 4 1 Sweden Dalkurd FF
16 4FW Emil Sambou (1994-05-11) May 11, 1994 3 0 The Gambia Armed Forces FC
10 4FW Modou Barrow (1992-10-03) October 3, 1992 4 0 England Swansea City
14 4FW Pa Amat Dibba (1987-10-15) October 15, 1987 5 1 Sweden GIF Sundsvall

Recent Call-Ups

0#0 Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Pa Dembo Touray (1980-03-30) March 30, 1980 24 0 South Africa Santos
16 1GK Sam Jammeh (1991-11-18) November 18, 1991 0 0 Finland FF Jaro
18 1GK Alhagie Nyabally (1991-11-15) November 15, 1991 3 0 The Gambia Real de Banjul FC
1 1GK Bubacarr Sanyang (1994-10-21) October 21, 1994 3 0 The Gambia Armed Forces
3 2DF Saihou Omar Saho (1994-06-18) June 18, 1994 0 0 The Gambia Brikama United
2DF Ahmed Albassam (1986-02-13) February 13, 1986 25 1 The Gambia Steve Biko
2DF Lamin Samateh (1992-06-26) June 26, 1992 3 0 Finland KuPS
2DF Emmanuel Gómez (1990-12-20) December 20, 1990 0 0 The Gambia Samger FC
3MF Dawda Ngum (1990-09-02) September 2, 1990 1 0 Sweden FC Höllviken
2DF Musa Yaffa (1994-07-15) July 15, 1994 0 0 The Gambia Banjul Hawks FC
2DF Pa Saikou Kujabi (1986-12-10) December 10, 1986 10 0 England Whitehawk
2DF Antou Badjan (1995-09-13) September 13, 1995 0 0 The Gambia Real de Banjul FC
24 2DF Algie Amadou Ngum (1988-10-18) October 18, 1988 7 0 The Gambia GAMTEL
3 2DF Abdou Jammeh (1986-02-13) February 13, 1986 46 4 Finland RoPS
13 2DF Matarr Nyan (1989-10-23) October 23, 1989 2 0 Kenya Tusker F.C.
2DF Pa Modou Jagne (1989-12-26) December 26, 1989 16 0 Switzerland FC Sion
8 2DF Ousman Koli (1988-10-18) October 18, 1988 12 0 Bosnia and Herzegovina Mladost Doboj Kakanj
2DF Mamadou Danso (1983-04-27) April 27, 1983 8 1 United States Rayo OKC
15 3MF Ebrima Sohna (1988-12-14) December 14, 1988 18 2 Finland KuPS
10 3MF Abdoulie Mansally (1989-01-27) January 27, 1989 12 0 United States Houston Dynamo
2 2DF Nuha Barrow (1993-10-10) October 10, 1993 1 0 The Gambia GAMTEL
11 3MF Saloum Faal (1995-11-02) November 2, 1995 4 1 Senegal Casa Sports
12 3MF Mustapha Jarju (1986-07-18) July 18, 1986 24 5 Kazakhstan Irtysh Pavlodar
5 3MF Tijan Jaiteh (1988-12-31) December 31, 1988 15 1 Slovenia Koper
3MF Sanna Nyassi (1989-01-31) January 31, 1989 7 1 United States San Jose Earthquakes
3MF Modou Jallow (1995-07-26) July 26, 1995 1 0 The Gambia Real de Banjul
20 3MF Modou Jatta (1994-08-15) August 15, 1994 2 0 The Gambia Steve Biko
3MF Yusupha Bobb (1996-06-22) June 22, 1996 0 0 Italy A.C. Chievo Verona
3MF Saihou Gassama (1993-12-11) December 11, 1993 5 1 Spain Real Zaragoza B
3MF Yankuba Ceesay (1984-06-26) June 26, 1984 5 0 Finland AC Kajaani
3MF Mamut Saine (1993-12-31) December 31, 1993 0 0 Finland RoPS
3MF Baboucarr Sarr (1983-08-30) August 30, 1983 0 0 Unattached
7 4FW Ebou Kanteh (1995-02-12) February 12, 1995 3 1 The Gambia Real de Banjul FC
21 4FW Momodou Ceesay (1988-12-24) December 24, 1988 13 5 Israel Maccabi Netanya
23 4FW Haruna Jammeh (1991-06-02) June 2, 1991 2 1 Hungary Lombard-Pápa
4FW Ali Sowe (1994-06-14) June 14, 1994 5 0 Italy Pescara
4FW Alieu Darbo (1992-08-03) August 3, 1992 0 0 Egypt El Ittihad Alexandria
19 4FW Bubacarr Trawally (1994-11-10) November 10, 1994 2 0 China Yanbian Funde
4FW Ebrahim "Ibou" Savaneh (1986-09-07) September 7, 1986 6 0 Belgium Waasland-Beveren
21 4FW Assan Ceesay (1994-03-17) March 17, 1994 1 0 Switzerland FC Lugano
9 4FW Ousman Jallow (1988-10-21) October 21, 1988 12 2 Kazakhstan FC Irtysh Pavlodar

Coaches since 1997

References

  1. "Gambia - List of International Matches". Rsssf.com. Retrieved 2012-04-20.
  2. "The Gambia disqualified from all Caf competitions". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  3. http://www.gambiafa.com/the-gfa/gambia-national-stadium.html
  4. "Namibia secured a 1-1 draw away to Gambia". kickoff.com. Retrieved 2015-10-09.
  5. "Warriors beat Gambia to setup Guinea clash". nbc.na. Retrieved 2015-10-13.
  6. "Misfiring Bafana held by Gambia". africanfootball.com. Retrieved 2015-06-15.
  7. "Gambia vs Cameroon Match Report". africanfootball.com. Retrieved 2015-09-06.
  8. "Late goal hands Mauritania win". africanfootball.com. Retrieved 2016-03-25.
  9. "Gambia, Mauritania in a dull draw". africanfootball.com. Retrieved 2016-03-29.
  10. "South Africa vs Gambia game delayed". IOL Sport. 13 June 2015.
  11. "Former international Sang Ndong named new Gambia coach". bbc.com. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  12. "Gambia Reappoints Sang Ndong National Team Coach". observer.gm. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  13. "Scorpions Coach on Mauritania Game". observer.gm. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  14. "Scorpions Coach Appeals For Support in Rebuilding Process". observer.gm. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  15. "Modou Barrow:Swansea forward returns to The Gambia squad". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-03-18.
  1. The South Africa v Gambia match was delayed from the original kick-off time of 15:00 local time due to late arrival of officials.[10]

External links

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