Gambia national football team
| Association | Gambia Football Federation | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Confederation | CAF (Africa) | ||
| Sub-confederation | WAFU (West Africa) | ||
| Head coach | Sang Ndong | ||
| Captain | Omar Colley | ||
| Home stadium | Independence Stadium | ||
| FIFA code | GAM | ||
| |||
| FIFA ranking | |||
| Current |
174  2 (24 November 2016) | ||
| Highest | 65 (June 2009) | ||
| Lowest | 176 (October 2016) | ||
| Elo ranking | |||
| Current | 124 (9 July 2014) | ||
| Highest | 93 (January 1984) | ||
| Lowest | 145 (22 November 1993) | ||
| First international | |||
 British Gambia 3–2 Senegal  (Gambia; 5 December 1962) | |||
| Biggest win | |||
 Gambia 6–0 Lesotho .svg.png){kind=small} (Banjul, Gambia; 12 October 2002) | |||
| Biggest defeat | |||
 Guinea 8–0 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]
Gambia Football Achievements
- Amilcar Cabral Cup :
- 3 Times Runners-up
World Cup record
- 1930 to 1978 – Did not enter
- 1982 to 1986 – Did not qualify
- 1990 – Did not enter
- 1994 – Withdrew
- 1998 to 2018 – Did not qualify
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.
Namibia won 3–2 on aggregate and advanced to the second round against Guinea.
Africa Cup of Nations record
- 1957 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
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
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 | Sang Ndong |
| Assistant Coach | Mattar M'Boge |
| Assistant Coach | Alhagie Sarr |
| Goalkeeping Coach | Alhagie Marong |
| Team Doctor |  Dr Emad Al Radwan |
| Physiotherapist | Wandifa Ceesay |
| Equipment Manager | Amadou LS Jaiteh |
Current squad
The following players were called up for the friendly match against Zambia on 30 May and the 2017 African Cup of Nations qualification match against South Africa on 4 June 2016.[15]
| # | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | GK | Alhagie Nyabally | November 15, 1991 | 4 | 0 | Real de Banjul FC
| ||
| 1 | GK | Modou Jobe | October 27, 1988 | 5 | 0 | ASC Niarry Tally
| ||
| 22 | GK | Christopher Allen | December 19, 1989 | 8 | 0 | Gambia Ports Authority | ||
| 5 | DF | Bubacarr Sanneh | November 14, 1994 | 4 | 0 |  AC Horsens
| ||
| 15 | DF | Omar Colley | October 24, 1992 | 10 | 0 | .svg.png){kind=small} K.R.C. Genk
| ||
| 13 | DF | Kebba Ceesay | November 14, 1987 | 11 | 0 |  Djurgårdens IF
| ||
| 2 | DF | Gregory Sambou | October 25, 1994 | 4 | 0 | Gambia Ports Authority
| ||
| 6 | MF | Mass Manga | January 1, 1995 | 3 | 0 | Banjul Hawks FC
| ||
| 17 | DF | Alieu Jatta | September 18, 1995 | 2 | 0 | Génération Foot
| ||
| 13 | DF | Musa Yaffa | July 15, 1994 | 2 | 0 | Banjul Hawks FC
| ||
| 3 | DF | Nuha Barrow | October 10, 1993 | 2 | 0 | GAMTEL | ||
| 4 | MF | Kaba Sambou | April 20, 1996 | 6 | 0 | Stade de Mbour
| ||
| 2 | MF | Hamza Barry | October 15, 1994 | 7 | 0 |  Hajduk Split
| ||
| 8 | MF | Lamin Charty | April 8, 1996 | 5 | 0 | Banjul Hawks FC
| ||
| 23 | MF | Alagie Bah | January 16, 1994 | 1 | 0 | Real de Banjul FC
| ||
| 14 | MF | Sainey Sambou | February 2, 1992 | 1 | 0 | Brikama United
| ||
| 8 | MF | Demba Savage | June 17, 1988 | 12 | 1 | BK Häcken
| ||
| 12 | MF | Muhammed Conteh | March 31, 1996 | 1 | 0 | Mbour Petite Côte
| ||
| 11 | MF | Mustapha Carayol | September 4, 1988 | 3 | 1 |  Nottingham Forest | ||
| 7 | FW | Lamin Jallow | December 18, 1995 | 2 | 0 |  Chievo Verona
| ||
| 9 | FW | Bacari | March 14, 1988 | 2 | 0 |  Cherno More
| ||
| 10 | FW | Bubacarr Trawally | November 10, 1994 | 3 | 0 |  Yanbian Funde
| ||
| 11 | FW | Bully Drammeh | July 15, 1995 | 5 | 0 | Real de Banjul FC
| ||
| 16 | FW | Emil Sambou | May 11, 1994 | 5 | 0 |  Santos F.C. (South Africa)
| ||
| 10 | FW | Modou Barrow | October 3, 1992 | 4 | 0 |  Swansea City
| ||
| 14 | FW | Pa Amat Dibba | October 15, 1987 | 5 | 1 | Hammarby IF | ||
Recent Call-Ups
| # | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Pa Dembo Touray | March 30, 1980 | 24 | 0 | Santos
| |||
| 16 | GK | Sam Jammeh | November 18, 1991 | 0 | 0 |  FF Jaro
| ||
| 1 | GK | Bubacarr Sanyang | October 21, 1994 | 3 | 0 | Armed Forces | ||
| 3 | DF | Saihou Omar Saho | June 18, 1994 | 0 | 0 | Brikama United
| ||
| DF | Ahmed Albassam | February 13, 1986 | 25 | 1 | Steve Biko
| |||
| DF | Lamin Samateh | June 26, 1992 | 3 | 0 | KuPS
| |||
| DF | Emmanuel Gómez | December 20, 1990 | 0 | 0 | Samger FC
| |||
| MF | Dawda Ngum | September 2, 1990 | 1 | 0 | FC Höllviken
| |||
| DF | Pa Saikou Kujabi | December 10, 1986 | 10 | 0 | Whitehawk
| |||
| DF | Antou Badjan | September 13, 1995 | 0 | 0 | Real de Banjul FC
| |||
| 24 | DF | Algie Amadou Ngum | October 18, 1988 | 7 | 0 | GAMTEL
| ||
| 3 | DF | Abdou Jammeh | February 13, 1986 | 46 | 4 | RoPS
| ||
| 13 | DF | Matarr Nyan | October 23, 1989 | 2 | 0 |  Tusker F.C.
| ||
| DF | Pa Modou Jagne | December 26, 1989 | 16 | 0 |  FC Sion
| |||
| 3 | DF | Ibou Touray | December 24, 1994 | 2 | 0 | Rhyl F.C.
| ||
| 8 | DF | Ousman Koli | October 18, 1988 | 12 | 0 |  Mladost Doboj Kakanj
| ||
| DF | Mamadou Danso | April 27, 1983 | 8 | 1 |  Rayo OKC
| |||
| 15 | MF | Ebrima Sohna | December 14, 1988 | 18 | 2 | KuPS
| ||
| 10 | MF | Abdoulie Mansally | January 27, 1989 | 12 | 0 | Houston Dynamo | ||
| 11 | MF | Saloum Faal | November 2, 1995 | 4 | 1 | Casa Sports
| ||
| 12 | MF | Mustapha Jarju | July 18, 1986 | 24 | 5 |  Irtysh Pavlodar
| ||
| 5 | MF | Tijan Jaiteh | December 31, 1988 | 15 | 1 |  Koper
| ||
| MF | Sanna Nyassi | January 31, 1989 | 7 | 1 | San Jose Earthquakes
| |||
| MF | Modou Jallow | July 26, 1995 | 1 | 0 | Real de Banjul
| |||
| 20 | MF | Modou Jatta | August 15, 1994 | 2 | 0 | Steve Biko
| ||
| MF | Yusupha Bobb | June 22, 1996 | 0 | 0 | A.C. Chievo Verona
| |||
| MF | Saihou Gassama | December 11, 1993 | 5 | 1 |  Real Zaragoza B
| |||
| MF | Yankuba Ceesay | June 26, 1984 | 5 | 0 | AC Kajaani
| |||
| MF | Mamut Saine | December 31, 1993 | 0 | 0 | RoPS
| |||
| MF | Baboucarr Sarr | August 30, 1983 | 0 | 0 | Unattached | |||
| 7 | FW | Ebou Kanteh | February 12, 1995 | 3 | 1 | Real de Banjul FC
| ||
| 21 | FW | Momodou Ceesay | December 24, 1988 | 13 | 5 |  Maccabi Netanya
| ||
| 23 | FW | Haruna Jammeh | June 2, 1991 | 2 | 1 |  Lombard-Pápa
| ||
| FW | Ali Sowe | June 14, 1994 | 5 | 0 | Pescara
| |||
| FW | Alieu Darbo | August 3, 1992 | 0 | 0 | El Ittihad Alexandria
| |||
| 9 | FW | Omar Jagne | June 10, 1992 | 4 | 1 | Dalkurd FF
| ||
| FW | Ebrahim "Ibou" Savaneh | September 7, 1986 | 6 | 0 | Waasland-Beveren
| |||
| 21 | FW | Assan Ceesay | March 17, 1994 | 1 | 0 | FC Lugano
| ||
| 9 | FW | Ousman Jallow | October 21, 1988 | 12 | 2 | FC Irtysh Pavlodar | ||
Coaches since 1987
- Hans Heiniger (1987–92)
- Sang Ndong (1993-94)
- Sang Ndong (1994–2003)
Antoine Hey (2005–2006)- José María Martínez López (2006–2007)
- Paul Put (2007–2011)
- Peter Bonu Johnson (2011–2012)
- Luciano Mancini (2012–2013)
- Peter Bonu Johnson (2013–2015)
- Raoul Savoy (2015)
- Sang Ndong (2016–)
References
- ↑ "Gambia – List of International Matches". Rsssf.com. Retrieved 2012-04-20.
- ↑ "The Gambia disqualified from all Caf competitions". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
- ↑ http://www.gambiafa.com/the-gfa/gambia-national-stadium.html
- ↑ "Namibia secured a 1–1 draw away to Gambia". kickoff.com. Retrieved 2015-10-09.
- ↑ "Warriors beat Gambia to setup Guinea clash". nbc.na. Retrieved 2015-10-13.
- ↑ "Misfiring Bafana held by Gambia". africanfootball.com. Retrieved 2015-06-15.
- ↑ "Gambia vs Cameroon Match Report". africanfootball.com. Retrieved 2015-09-06.
- ↑ "Late goal hands Mauritania win". africanfootball.com. Retrieved 2016-03-25.
- ↑ "Gambia, Mauritania in a dull draw". africanfootball.com. Retrieved 2016-03-29.
- ↑ "South Africa vs Gambia game delayed". IOL Sport. 13 June 2015.
- ↑ "Former international Sang Ndong named new Gambia coach". bbc.com. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
- ↑ "Gambia Reappoints Sang Ndong National Team Coach". observer.gm. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
- ↑ "Scorpions Coach on Mauritania Game". observer.gm. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
- ↑ "Scorpions Coach Appeals For Support in Rebuilding Process". observer.gm. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
- ↑ "Modou Barrow:Swansea forward returns to The Gambia squad". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-03-18.
External links
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| Domestic cups |
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