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The Gambia national football team is the representative of The Gambia in men's international football. It is managed by the Gambia Football Federation. The team was in existence until 1965. and the country was known under the name of British Gambia. The team has not qualified to compete in this World Cup. The 2021 edition of Gambia has qualified to finals of the Africa Cup of Nations finals for the first time in its history. Gambia is a member of both FIFA as well as the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

1. History

Under the under the name British Gambia, the team began their first ever match on February 9 in Sierra Leone, winning 2-1 at home in an informal match. On April 23, 1963, they participated in into the L'Amitie competition in Senegal the main competition for nations that speak French. They were grouped into a group along with France's amateur team and Gabon, the Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso) and Gabon. Their first match ended 5-1 against Gabon, the French amateurs on the 11th of April. The Gambia was able to draw 2-2 against their counterparts from the upper Volta on the 13th of April and then had the same result on the following day, against Gabon. The Gambia did not progress in the following round.

Following playing in Senegal after which Gambia did not play again until Gambia was not able to play again until November 16, 1968, after which they traveled into Sierra Leone to play its team in a friendly game and were defeated by a score of 2-1. They were again playing with Sierra Leone in The Gambia's next game on April 24, 1971. The hosts prevailed 3-1. On May 2, 1971 The Gambia travelled to Guinea to play a friendly game, but was defeated 4-2. On May 14, 1972 The Gambia returned to Guinea for their first African Games qualifier and lost 8-0, and then were eliminated.

In 1975 the Gambia began its first qualifying game for 1976's Summer Olympics at Canada. They were selected in a qualifying match against Guinea but losing the first game 1-0 at home on April 27, 1975. The second game was defeated to a 6-0 score in Guinea on June 1, in the same match as Guinea progressed 7-0 in aggregate.

In August of the same year in the same year, the Gambia began their first qualifying to an African Cup of Nations, in hopes of making the finals in Ethiopia. They were selected in a qualifier with two legs in the match against Morocco losing the opening leg away 3-0 on the 10th of August. They also lost the same margin at home on the 24th of August. Morocco progressed 6-0 overall.

Following the qualification process for the finals in 1976, The Gambia played their first game against a fully European team, and lost in a friendly match at home by with a score of 4-1 against Denmark on January 30, 1977.

On October 12, 2002, their team won their most successful win ever in international competitions with an 6-0 win over Lesotho.

The Gambia was banned from competitions in May 2014. Gambia was barred out of all CAF tournaments, for 2 years, after knowingly manipulating the ages of its players.

The nation's fortunes improved after qualifying to play in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. Even though they did not get into the tournament, they did make the tournament to the last round of games, playing twice against African huges Algeria.

On the 13th of November, their first group D fixture of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification, Gambia defeated Angola 1-3 in Luanda. It was the Scorpions their first win away during the AFCON as well as a FIFA World Cup qualifier ever and was their 40th time of trying. An impressive performance saw them get into their first major event that year. Being the team with the lowest ranking at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, Gambia Gambia beat the odds by beating the favorite Tunisia at the stage of group play and finishing unbeaten and in 2nd position at the top of the table. Another victory over Guinea at the end of the 16th round helped them advance to the quarter-finals in their first try, before being eliminated by tournament hosts Cameroon.

2. Home stadium

Independence Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium located in Bakau, Gambia. It is used primarily for football games, however it also hosts performances, political occasions as well as trade fairs and national celebrations. The stadium can accommodate 30,000 spectators.

3. Recent schedule and results

Below is a list of matches played in the past 12 months in addition to any future games that have been scheduled.

3.1. 2021

Friendly 9 October  Gambia 1-2  Sierra Leone El Jadida, Morocco
Friendly 12 October  Gambia 2-1  South Sudan El Jadida, Morocco
Friendly 16 November  New Zealand 2-0  Gambia Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

3.2. 2022

Friendly 1 January  Algeria Cancelled  Gambia Qatar
2021 AFCON 12 January  Mauritania 0-1  Gambia Limbe, Cameroon
2021 AFCON 16 January  Gambia 1-1  Mali Limbe, Cameroon
2021 AFCON 20 January  Gambia 1-0  Tunisia Limbe, Cameroon
AFCON Round of 16 24 January  Guinea 0-1  Gambia Bafoussam, Cameroon
AFCON Quarter Finals 29 January  Gambia 0-2  Cameroon Douala, Cameroon
2023 AFCON preliminary round 23 March  Chad 0-1  Gambia Yaoundé, Cameroon
2023 AFCON preliminary round 29 March  Gambia 2-2  Chad Agadir, Morocco
Friendly 29 May  United  Emirates 1-1  Gambia Dubai, United Arab Emirates
2023 AFCON qualification 4 June  Gambia 1-0  South Sudan Thiès, Senegal
2023 AFCON qualification 8 June Congo 1-0  Gambia Brazzaville, Congo
2023 AFCON qualification September  Mali v  Gambia  
2023 AFCON qualification September  Gambia v  Mali  

3.3. 2023

2023 AFCON qualification March  South Sudan v  Gambia  
2023 AFCON qualification March  Gambia v Congo  

4. Coaching staff

In July of 2018 In July 2018, the former Togo as well as Zimbabwe head coach Tom Saintfiet, was appointed as the head coach. Saintfiet was appointed by the former world champion Sang Ndong who is now technical director of the Gambia Football Federation (GFF) after the expiration of his contract in the month of January.

Head Coach Belgium Tom Saintfiet
Team Manager  Ousman Drammeh
Assistant Coach  Alagie Sarr
Physical Coach Italy Daniele Caleca
Goalkeeper Coach  Alhagie Marong
Goalkeeper Coach Germany Jo Stock
Team Doctor  Pa Landing
Physiotherapist Belgium Tom Mertens
Physiotherapist Belgium Joppe Vermeulen
Equipment Manager  Mustapha Kassama
Technical Assistant Germany Robby Echelmeyer
Video Analyst Finland Jani Sarajärvi
International Scout Italy Alessandro Soli

 

4.1. Coaching history

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

5. Players

Detail of the players as below mentioned.

5.1. Current squad

The following players were selected to play in the 2023 AFCON qualifying matches in the countries of South Sudan and Congo, on June 4 and 8. 2022.

Goals and caps are correct at the time of 8 June 2022, following the game against Congo.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
  GK Modou Jobe 27 October 1988 (age 33) 29 0 Saudi Arabia Jeddah
  GK Baboucarr Gaye 24 February 1998 (age 24) 13 0 Germany Rot-Weiß Koblenz
  GK Lamin Sarr 11 March 2001 (age 21) 0 0 Sweden Torns IF

  DF Omar Colley 24 October 1992 (age 29) 41 0 Italy Sampdoria
  DF Bubacarr Sanneh 14 November 1994 (age 27) 35 1 Denmark SønderjyskE
  DF Ibou Touray 24 December 1994 (age 27) 16 0 England Salford City
  DF James Gomez 14 November 2001 (age 20) 12 1 Denmark AC Horsens
  DF Muhammed Sanneh 19 February 2000 (age 22) 6 0 Slovakia Pohronie
  DF Sainey Njie 30 August 2001 (age 21) 3 0 Slovakia DAC
  DF Kalifa Manneh 2 September 1998 (age 24) 2 0 Italy Taranto

  MF Sulayman Marreh 15 January 1996 (age 26) 32 1 Belgium Gent
  MF Ablie Jallow 14 November 1998 (age 23) 24 6 Belgium Seraing
  MF Yusupha Bobb 22 June 1996 (age 26) 19 0 Italy Piacenza
  MF Hamza Barry 3 May 1994 (age 28) 17 0 Croatia Hajduk Split
  MF Ebrima Darboe 6 June 2001 (age 21) 13 0 Italy Roma
  MF Sulayman Bojang 3 September 1997 (age 25) 8 0 Norway Skeid
  MF Matarr Ceesay 19 January 2000 (age 22) 2 0 South Africa AmaZulu

  FW Assan Ceesay 17 March 1994 (age 28) 32 13 Italy Lecce
  FW Musa Barrow 14 November 1998 (age 23) 28 5 Italy Bologna
  FW Lamin Jallow 22 July 1994 (age 28) 19 1 Hungary Fehérvár
  MF Modou Barrow 13 October 1992 (age 29) 18 2 South Korea Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
  FW Bubacarr Jobe 21 November 1994 (age 27) 17 3 Sweden Norrby IF
  FW Muhammed Badamosi 27 December 1998 (age 23) 15 1 Serbia ÄŒukarički
  FW Abdoulie Sanyang 8 May 1999 (age 23) 8 0 France Grenoble
  FW Dembo Darboe 17 August 1998 (age 24) 5 0 Belarus Shakhtyor Soligorsk

5.2. Recent call ups

A number of players from the following have been invited to join the Gambia squad over the last 12 months.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Sheikh Sibi 21 February 1998 (age 24) 3 0 Italy Virtus Verona v.  Chad; 29 March, 2022

DF Pa Modou Jagne (captain) 26 December 1989 (age 32) 43 2 Switzerland Dietikon v.  Chad; 29 March, 2022
DF Noah Sonko Sundberg 6 June 1996 (age 26) 11 0 Bulgaria Levski Sofia v.  Chad; 29 March, 2022
DF Mohammed Mbye 18 June 1989 (age 33) 15 0 Sweden Ifö Bromölla IF v.  Chad; 29 March, 2022
DF Saidy Janko 22 October 1995 (age 26) 6 0 Spain Real Valladolid v.  Chad; 29 March, 2022
DF Leon Guwara 28 June 1996 (age 26) 5 0 Germany Jahn Regensburg v.  New Zealand, 16 November 2021
DF Maudo Jarjué 30 September 1997 (age 25) 2 0 Sweden IF Elfsborg v.  New Zealand, 16 November 2021

MF Dawda Ngum 2 September 1990 (age 32) 19 0 Unattached v.  Chad; 29 March, 2022
MF Ebrima Sohna 14 December 1988 (age 33) 38 3  Fortune v.  Chad; 29 March, 2022
MF Ebou Adams 15 January 1996 (age 26) 11 0 England Forest Green Rovers v.  Chad; 29 March, 2022

FW Ebrima Colley 1 February 2000 (age 22) 16 0 Italy Spezia v.  Chad; 29 March, 2022
FW Bubacarr Trawally 10 November 1994 (age 27) 16 1 Sweden Hammarby IF v.  Chad; 29 March, 2022
FW Yusupha Njie 3 January 1994 (age 28) 6 0 Portugal Boavista v.  Chad; 29 March, 2022

6. Records

At the time of 8 June 2022.

Players who are bold are actively involved in Gambia.

6.1. Most appearances

Rank Player Caps Goals Career
1 Pa Modou Jagne 43 2 2006–present
2 Omar Colley 41 0 2012–present
3 Ebrima Sohna 38 3 2007–present
4 Bubacarr Sanneh 35 1 2012–present
5 Abdou Jammeh 33 2 2006–2015
6 Assan Ceesay 32 13 2013–present
Sulayman Marreh 32 1 2011–present
8 Modou Jobe 29 0 2007–present
9 Musa Barrow 28 5 2018–present
10 Mustapha Jarju 26 5 2006–2013

6.2. Top goalscorer

Rank Player Goals Caps Ratio Career
1 Assan Ceesay 13 32 0.41 2013–present
2 Momoudou Ceesay 6 16 0.38 2010–2015
Ablie Jallow 6 24 0.25 2015–present
4 Omar Samba 5 11 0.45 1995–2002
Jatto Ceesay 5 17 0.29 1994–2007
Mustapha Jarju 5 26 0.19 2006–2013
Musa Barrow 5 28 0.18 2018–present
8 Samuel Kargbo 3 9 0.33 1994–1996
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
Bubacarr Jobe 3 17 0.18 2018–present
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

7. Competitive record

As per detail below.

7.1. FIFA 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
Uruguay 1930 Part of  United Kingdom Part of  United Kingdom
Italy 1934
 1938
Brazil 1950
Switzerland 1954
Sweden 1958
Chile 1962
England 1966
Mexico 1970 Did not enter Did not enter
Germany 1974
Argentina 1978
Spain 1982 Did not qualify 2 0 1 1 2 1
Mexico 1986 2 1 0 1 3 6
Italy 1990 Did not enter Did not enter
United States 1994 Withdrew Withdrew
 1998 Did not qualify 2 1 0 1 2 5
South Korea Japan 2002 2 0 0 2 0 3
Germany 2006 2 1 0 1 2 3
South Africa 2010 6 2 3 1 6 3
United States 2014 6 1 1 4 4 11
Russia 2018 2 0 1 1 2 3
Qatar 2022 2 0 0 2 1 3
Canada Mexico United States 2026 To be determined To be determined
Totak - 0/22 - - - - - - 26 6 6 14 22 38

7.2. Africa Cup of Nations

Africa Cup of Nations record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA
Sudan 1957 to Ghana 1963 Part of United Kingdom
Tunisia 1965 Not affiliated to CAF
Ethiopia 1968 to Egypt 1974 Did not enter
Ethiopia 1976 Did not qualify
Ghana 1978 Did not enter
Nigeria 1980 to Morocco 1988 Did not qualify
Algeria 1990 Withdrew
Senegal 1992 Did not qualify
Tunisia 1994 Did not enter
South Africa 1996 Withdrew during qualifying
Burkina Faso 1998 Banned for withdrawing in 1996
Ghana Nigeria 2000 Withdrew
Mali 2002 to South Africa 2013 Did not qualify
Equatorial Guinea 2015 Banned
Gabon 2017 Did not qualify
Egypt 2019
Cameroon 2021 Quarter-finals 6th 5 3 1 1 4 3
Ivory Coast 2023 TBD
Guinea 2025
Total - 1/33 5 3 1 1 4 3

8. Honours

Amilcar Cabral Cup :

  • Runners-up

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