Gambia national football team

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. It has never qualified for the World Cup or the Africa Cup of Nations finals. The team represents both FIFA and Confederation of African Football (CAF).

This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Gambia women's national football team.
Gambia
Nickname(s)The Scorpions
AssociationGambia Football Federation
ConfederationCAF (Africa)
Sub-confederationWAFU (West Africa)
Head coachTom Saintfiet
CaptainPa Modou Jagne
Most capsPa Modou Jagne (32)
Top scorerAssan Ceesay
Momodou Ceesay (6)
Home stadiumIndependence Stadium
FIFA codeGAM
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 157 (10 December 2020)[1]
Highest65 (June 2009)
Lowest179 (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)

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.[2] 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.[3]

On 12 October 2002, the team got their biggest ever victory in international competition, a 6–0 victory against Lesotho. [4]

In May 2014, The Gambia was banned from all CAF competitions for two years after deliberately falsifying players' ages.[5]

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.[6]

Competitive record

Gambia Football Achievements
Amilcar Cabral Cup :
  • 3 Times Runners-up

World Cup record
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 to
1978		 Did not enter Did not enter
1982 Did not qualify 2 0 1 1 2 1
1986 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––––––––2666142238

Africa Cup of Nations record
Africa Cup of Nations record
Host nation(s) / Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA
1957 to 1963 Part of United Kingdom
1965Not 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
2017Did not qualify
2019
2021To be determined
2023
2025
Total–0/32––––––

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

2019
13 November 2019 (2019-11-13) 2021 AFCONQ Angola  1–3  Gambia Luanda, Angola
20:00 UTC+1
Report
Stadium: Estádio 11 de Novembro
Referee: Hassan Mohamed Hagi (Somalia)
18 November 2019 (2019-11-18) 2021 AFCONQ Gambia  2–2  DR Congo Bakau, Gambia
16:00 UTC±0
Report
Stadium: Independence Stadium
Referee: Norman Matemera (Zimbabwe)

2020
12 November 2020 (2020-11-12) 2021 AFCONQ Gabon  2–1  Gambia Franceville, Gabon
20:00 UTC+1
Report
Stadium: Stade de Franceville
Referee: Kouassi Attiogbe (Togo)
16 November 2020 (2020-11-16) 2021 AFCONQ Gambia  2–1  Gabon Bakau, Gambia
16:00 UTC±0
Report
Stadium: Independence Stadium
Referee: Pacifique Ndabihawenimana (Burundi)

2021
22 March 2021 (2021-03-22) 2021 AFCONQ Gambia  v  Angola
--:-- UTC±0
30 March 2021 (2021-03-30) 2021 AFCONQ DR Congo  v  Gambia
--:-- UTC+1

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.[7]

Head Coach Tom Saintfiet
Technical Director Sang Ndong
Assistant Coach Mattar M'Boge
Goalkeeping Coach Alhagie Marong
Team Doctor Kalifa Manneh
Physiotherapist Pa Matarr Ndow
Equipment Manager Mustapha Kassama

Players

Current squad

The following players were selected for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Gabon on 12 and 16 November 2020 respectively.

  • Caps and goals are correct as of: 16 November 2020, after the match against Gabon
No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Modou Jobe (1998-10-27) 27 October 1998 25 0 Jeddah
1GK Baboucarr Gaye (1998-02-24) 24 February 1998 1 0 Rot-Weiß Koblenz
1GK Sheikh Sibi (1998-02-21) 21 February 1998 0 0 Virtus
2DF Pa Modou Jagne (C) (1989-12-26) 26 December 1989 37 2 Unattached
2DF Bubacarr Sanneh (1994-11-14) 14 November 1994 23 1 AGF
2DF Omar Colley (1992-10-24) October 24, 1992 20 0 Sampdoria
2DF Mohammed Mbye (1989-06-18) 18 June 1989 8 0 Mjällby AIF
2DF Noah Sonko Sundberg (1996-06-06) 6 June 1996 3 0 Östersund
2DF Robin Bjørnholm-Jatta (1994-01-27) 27 January 1994 0 0 Stjørdals-Blink
3MF Ebrima Sohna (1988-12-14) 14 December 1988 36 3 Unattached
3MF Ablie Jallow (1998-11-14) 14 November 1998 8 2 RFC Seraing
3MF Kalifa Manneh (1998-09-02) 2 September 1998 1 0 Catania
3MF Sainey Njie (2001-07-30) 30 July 2001 1 0 DAC Dunajská Streda
4FW Modou Barrow (1992-10-03) 3 October 1992 12 2 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
4FW Bubacarr Jobe (1994-11-21) 21 November 1994 10 3 Mjällby
4FW Musa Barrow (1998-11-14) 14 November 1998 8 2 Bologna
4FW Bubacarr Trawally (1994-11-10) 10 November 1994 8 0 Ajman
4FW Abdoulie Sanyang (1999-05-08) 8 May 1999 2 0 Beerschot

Recent call ups

Following players have been selected in last months

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Salifu Senghore (2000-10-01) 1 October 2000 0 0 Lahti v.  Congo, 9 October 2020
DF Maudo Jarjué (1997-09-30) 30 September 1997 0 0 Austria Wien v.  Gabon, 12 November 2020 PRE
DF Sulayman Bojang (1997-09-03) 3 September 1997 6 0 Sarpsborg 08 v.  Congo, 9 October 2020
MF Dawda Ngum (1990-09-02) 2 September 1990 12 0 Brønshøj v.  Gabon, 16 November 2020 SUS
MF Ebrima Colley (2000-02-01) 1 February 2000 9 0 Hellas v.  Gabon, 16 November 2020 INJ
MF Sulayman Marreh (1996-01-15) 15 January 1996 18 1 Gent v.  Congo, 9 October 2020
MF Alasana Manneh (1998-04-08) 8 April 1998 4 0 Górnik v.  Congo, 9 October 2020
MF Sheriff Sinyan (1996-07-19) 19 July 1996 4 0 Molde v.  Congo, 9 October 2020
FW Assan Ceesay (1994-03-17) 17 March 1994 16 7 Zürich v.  Gabon, 12 November 2020 INJ
FW Nuha Marong (1993-06-16) 16 June 1993 2 0 Recreativo Granada v.  Congo, 9 October 2020
FW Musa Juwara (2001-12-26) 26 December 2001 1 0 Boavista v.  Congo, 9 October 2020

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

Top scorers
# Player Period Goals
1 Assan Ceesay 2018– 6
2 Mustapha Jarju 2006–2013 5
3 Aziz Corr Nyang 2005–2009 3
4 Jatto Ceesay 1995–2006 3
5 Samuel Kargbo 1995–1996 3

Ref[8]

References
  1. "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 10 December 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  2. "World Football Elo Ratings: Gambia". World Football Elo Rankings. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
  3. "Gambia – List of International Matches". Rsssf.com. Retrieved 2012-04-20.
  4. "Gambia v Lesotho, 13 October 2002". 11v11.com.
  5. "The Gambia disqualified from all Caf competitions". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-09-23. Retrieved 2013-08-27.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. "Tom Saintfiet named new Gambia coach". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 18 July 2018. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  8. "Gambia national football team statistics and records: Top Scorers". 11v11.
    • GFF Official federation website
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