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GAMBIAN SWIMMER MISSES SEMI-FINAL SPOT IN OLYMPICS

Gambian swimmer Aminata Nia Maria Barrow missed a semi-final spot in women's 100m breaststroke as she came out 4th in heat one.The swimmer covered the distance at a timing of 1:15:12, which was not good enough to earn her a pole position.This was a debut for Aminata in the Olympics, and she made history by becoming the first-ever female swimmer to represent The Gambia at the Olympic Games.Other Gambian athletes like Judoka Faye Njie will compete on Monday, 29 August, in the men's 73kg fight.

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GAMBIA GOVERNMENT ISSUES DIPLOMATIC PASSPORT TO GINA BASS

Through the Ministry of Youth & Sports, the Government of the Gambia has issued a diplomatic passport to The Gambia and Africa's sprint sensation, Gina Mariam Bass Bittaye. Gina will now enjoy fewer visa restrictions, access to diplomatic channels, and exemptions from transportation taxes, among other VIP treatments accorded to diplomats. The transportation challenges the Queen of the tracks faced when travelling for competitions could now become a thing of the past.

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AFCON 2025 DRAW: THE GAMBIA TO FACE TUNISIA AND OTHERS

The Scorpions of The Gambia are drawn alongside Comoros, Madagascar, and Tunisia in Group A, as they hope to make a third successive return to the AFCON. 48 teams are drawn into 12 groups of four. Teams will play each other in a home and away fixture, and the top two teams in each group will qualify for the tournament. For a group that consists of the host, Morocco, they will qualify alongside the team that finishes above the remaining teams in the group.The qualifiers are set to start in early September and end in November 2024.

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UNSTOPPABLE MINTEH SHINES IN PRE-SEASON FOR BRIGHTON

Gambia's wing-wizard Yankuba Minteh has made an immediate impact for Brighton and Hove Albion as he started and scored two goals in two preseason games for the Seagulls. The youngster scored a brilliant goal in his debut after he skipped past two defenders before slotting into the net against Kashima in Tokyo. Minteh again scored a sublime curl as Brighton wrapped up their preseason tour in Japan with a 4-2 win over Tokyo Verdy on Sunday, 28 July 2024.Minteh and his Brighton side are set to return to England, where they will play with Queen Park Rangers at Loftus Road on August 3rd, before wrapping up their pre-season preparations with a final test game in front of the home crowd at Falmer Stadium against the Spanish side Villareal. Brighton will open their 2024-25 Premier League campaign with an away trip to Goodison Park against Everton on August 17, before hosting Manchester United on August 27 and then another tough trip to North London on August 31 for a clash against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. Minteh, who was bought from Newcastle for a fee in excess of 30 million pounds, is expected to carry his preseason form into the new Premier League.With this preseason performance and his performance for Feyenoord last season, where he scored 11 goals, including in the Champions League during his loan spell from Newcastle, Minteh is showing all indications of becoming a new revelation when the Premier League season starts.

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GINA SIGNS QCELL ENDORSEMENT DEAL

 Gina Mariam Bass Bittaye has signed an endorsement deal with Qcell Gambia Limited to become their global brand ambassador. She is preparing to return to Paris for a training camp ahead of the Paris Olympics, where she will join over 10,000 athletes competing in various track and field events from July 26 to August 11, 2024.

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Gambia Beat Seychelles 5-1 To Register First Win Since June 2023

The Scorpions of the Gambia, who last recorded a win (3-2) against S. Sudan - in AFCON Qualifiers in Egypt on June 14, 2023, ended their six-game winless run as they registered a comprehensive 5 - 1 win over Seychelles in round three of the 2026 FIFA World Qualifiers. Muhammed Badamosi scored a brace, and Musa Barrow netted a penalty with Yankuba Minteh and debutant Adama Sidibeh, each scoring once in a tie played in Morocco due to the ban on Gambia's Stadium by both CAF and FIFA for lack of standards.Henriette scored the consolation for the struggling Seychelles, who are still without a win in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers after three games.Coach Jonathan McKinstry started his mission with a convincing victory as he sent a strong statement of intent about his ambition of transforming Gambia's style of football (from a defensive to a more proactive approach) in what was his first game as the Scorpions coach.The Gambia will travel to Franceville to take on Gabon in round four of the World Cup Qualifiers on June 11 2024.

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TEAM GAMBIA COMPETITION SCHEDULE AT THE 2024 PARIS OLYMPIC GAMES

The Gambia sent a record number of athletes (seven) for the first time such a number represents the Gambia in an Olympic event. This is the Gambia's biggest representation in the Olympics history. 

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Gambia's New Coach Hopeful Of Positive Start

Jonathan McKinstry, the new coach of the Gambia National Male Football Team, eyes starting his reign as the Scorpions coach on a positive note when the Gambia take on Seychelles. "We are looking for a good performance against Seychelles on Saturday," he said."I've got a very clear idea about how I believe the team can play. It aligns very well with my philosophy on the game.""It's very much for square pegs for square holes. We want players to play in positions they are very much comfortable with. We want them to do what they are best at. What they are doing for their clubs week in and week out," Jonny said in an interview with the GFF Media. The Gambia lost their first two games against Ivory Coast and Burundi in the World Cup Qualifiers. The Northern Irish tactician can send a positive impression if he is able to register a victory against Seychelles, who also lost their first two games in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers.The Gambia will play against Seychelles on June 8 in Morocco before travelling to Franceville to take on Gabon in what will be Jonathan McKinstry's second game in charge of the Scorpions.

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GINA CONQUERS 100M IN KENYA

After dominating the women's 100&200m events in the 13th African Games in Ghana last month.Gambia's sprint sensation Gina Mariam Bass continues to prove her worth in the continent. She wins the women's 100m of the Keip Keino Classic Athletics Championship in Kenya with a timing of 11.33 seconds on Saturday afternoon in Kenya. 

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ONE MILLION DALASI REWARD FOR GINA MARIAM BASS

Gambia's track Queen Gina Mariam Bass Bittaye who won gold medals in both the women's 100 and 200m events of the 13th African Games in Ghana, has been handed one million dalasi by the government of the Gambia. The cheque was presented to her by the Vice President of the Republic of The Gambia Muhammed BS Jallow, who commended Gina for representing the country well and assured her and the rest of President Barrow's continuous support.Gina was accompanied to the State House by the Youth and Sports Minister, Bakary Badjie, and other senior officials of the Ministry.

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COMMENTARY: THE SCORPIONS' STING OR SONG OF THE SWAN?

The drums of despair beat a heavy rhythm in Gambian hearts. The Scorpions, our beloved national team, lie coiled at the bottom of Group C, their venom spent, their hopes dwindling faster than the sands of time. No goals, no points, just a shadow of the team that danced with optimism before the tournament began.Tonight, the air crackles with desperation. Fans cling to the fragile threads of hope, whispering prayers to a God who seems to have turned a deaf ear. Bright Stars, our lead cheerleaders desperately wanting to hang on to the good food and beautiful atmosphere of the land of the elephants, GFF Officials, their faces etched with worry, huddle around every score sheet, frantically calculating the odds of becoming one of the "best losers" - a consolation prize no one truly desires.Tom Saintfiet, the man entrusted with weaving magic from this band of scorpions, stands at the precipice. His magic tricks at the last AFCON already busted. Was the scorpion's first stint on the big stage a flash in the pan? The sting of Guinea's victory still fresh, he must now face the roaring lion of Cameroon, a beast wounded but far from tamed. His previous pronouncements, the sarcastic barbs aimed at critics, and the dismissive caricature of Gambian football, echo hollowly in the face of this do-or-die battle.This is no time for swagger, no room for self-congratulation. The Gambian league, once deemed unworthy by Saintfiet, now holds the echoes of dreams shattered, of potential unfulfilled. The record, once a blank slate, now bears the stark inscription of failure. It is a record that stares back at him, a mirror reflecting not the image of a saviour, but of a man adrift, clutching at straws.But tonight, the Scorpions cannot afford introspection. They must fight, not for glory, but for pride. They must sting back, not with venom, but with the spirit of a nation that refuses to surrender. For the fans who fill the stadium, their roar will be a weapon, their chants a shield against the tide of despair.The whistle blows. The Scorpions take the field, their eyes locked on the prize, or perhaps on the precipice. Can they weave their magic, can they defy the odds? Only time will tell. But one thing is certain, tonight, the Scorpions will dance, not to the tune of triumph, but to the rhythm of their own resilience.This is not just a game. It is a battle cry, a desperate plea for redemption. It is the Scorpions' song of the swan, a defiant melody that will echo long after the final whistle. Whether it be a sting of victory or a mournful dirge, the Gambia will listen, and remember.For tonight, we are all Scorpions, and our hearts beat as one. Let the drums of despair be drowned out by the roar of our hope. Let the dance begin.

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THE TANGLED NET: TOM SAINTFIET, GAMBIAN JOURNALISTS, AND A FOOTBALLING FEUD

The air around Tom Saintfiet and Gambian journalists crackles with an undeniable tension. It's a relationship steeped in accusations, misunderstandings, and a hefty dose of bruised egos. Unravelling the truth becomes tricky, for the narrative, like a footballer's footwork, often shifts with dizzying agility.On one hand, Saintfiet, the Gambian national team coach, paints himself as a misunderstood knight in shining armor, unfairly criticized by a hostile press. He points to his achievements – a respectable Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign – as proof of his worth, highlighting what he perceives as a lack of appreciation from Gambian journalists.However, a closer look reveals a different perspective. Saintfiet's maiden encounter with the Gambian press wasn't exactly a love-fest. He launched into verbal attacks, setting the tone for a turbulent relationship. Subsequent interactions were often laced with ridicule and dismissive shrugs, hardly fostering warmth or mutual respect.This frosty demeanor fuelled speculation that Saintfiet was merely a puppet in the grand play orchestrated by the Gambia Football Federation (GFF). Whispers allege that the GFF, eager to control the narrative surrounding the national team, deliberately pitted Saintfiet against the press, using him as a shield against critical scrutiny.Whether this is true or not is a matter of conjecture. But the consequences are undeniable. Gambian journalists, used to a certain level of engagement with foreign coaches, found themselves shut out, relegated to the sidelines while Saintfiet cozied up to the GFF's handpicked media (GFF media).Saintfiet's savior complex further complicates the equation. He seems to believe his presence alone elevates Gambian football, his achievements a gift bestowed upon an undeserving nation. This, naturally, rubs Gambian journalists the wrong way. Their job, after all, is to hold power to account, not sing paeans of praise.Finding a path out of this quagmire requires a change in mindset. Saintfiet must shed his victimhood cloak and accept that criticism is an integral part of the game. He needs to engage with Gambian journalists openly and honestly, fostering a relationship built on respect and mutual understanding.For their part, Gambian journalists must move beyond perceived slights and approach Saintfiet with professionalism, focusing on factual reporting and fair analysis. Knee-jerk reactions and personal attacks only serve to widen the gulf.Ultimately, both sides must recognize that they are, quite literally, on the same team. Their shared goal is the success of Gambian football, and this can only be achieved through collaboration, not antagonism. Only then can the air clear, the tension dissipate, and the beautiful game truly flourish in the Land of Smiling Coasts.

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GAMBIA SCORPIONS ARRIVE IN KSA AHEAD OF A WEEK-LONG TRAINING CAMP

The Scorpions of the Gambia have begun their pre-AFCON training camp in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The week-long camp, which is underway in the Saudi city of Al-Ahsa, is jointly facilitated by The Ministry of Youth and Sports and The Gambia Football Federation with support from the Saudi Football Federation. The team, under the guidance of coach Tom Saintfiet, had their first training session on Tuesday evening at the Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi sports complex. At the end of what was a mild session, the Scorpions boss said he was excited to regroup his players and prepare for the task ahead.Saintfiet, who has delayed announcing his final 27-man squad, said his decision to do so was informed purely by footballing reasons. A few players are yet to arrive, but the Belgian is hopeful of having all his players in camp by Thursday.

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