As the final round of qualifiers for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) approaches, the players face a pivotal moment that could determine the fate of Gambia's national team.
Coach Johnathan McKinstry has announced a carefully selected squad that is poised for action, starting with a crucial match against Comoros on November 15, 2024, set to take place in Morocco.
Following this encounter, the team will head to Tunisia for their decisive qualifier on 18 November 2024.
The stakes are high for the Scorpions of The Gambia; a victory over Comoros, paired with a draw against Tunisia, could secure their place in the prestigious AFCON tournament for the third consecutive time.
With the weight of national pride on their shoulders, the players are eager to demonstrate their skill and determination on the field.
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Minister of Youth and Sport, Bakary Y. Badjie, has handed over the Gambia National Flag to Team Gambia, marking a significant milestone as the country prepares to participate in the ANOCA African Youth Games in Angola. The ceremony, held at the Olympic House, was attended by officials from the Gambia National Olympic Committee (GNOC) and other stakeholders.Minister Badjie reiterated his Ministry's commitment to supporting the development of sports in The Gambia, urging the athletes to be good ambassadors of the country and bring home medals. He expressed pride in the phenomenal successes achieved in Gambian sports, attributing it to the willingness of athletes and the commitment of the NOC.GNOC President, Bai Dodou Jallow, highlighted the readiness of the athletes, citing the efforts and support made by the committee to prepare them for the event. The team will depart for Angola in two phases, with the first delegation travelling on Sunday and the rest on Monday.The ANOCA African Youth Games will take place from December 10 to December 20, providing a platform for young Gambian athletes to showcase their talents and compete against their peers from across the continent.
The Gambia's boys and girls who narrowly missed out in the chase for a gold medal, have settled for bronze medals in both categories of the WAFU A U-15 African School Football Championship.The boys defeated Mauritania 4-2 on penalties following a goalless draw, while the girls finished third in the standings to settle for bronze.Both teams were handed bronze medals and will each receive 50,000 US dollars worth of support for school sports and talent development from the Confederation of African Football.
The Gambia's boys and girls who narrowly missed out in the chase for a gold medal, have settled for bronze medals in both categories of the WAFU A U-15 African School Football Championship.The boys defeated Mauritania 4-2 on penalties following a goalless draw, while the girls finished third in the standings to settle for bronze.Both teams were handed bronze medals and will each receive 50,000 US dollars worth of support for school sports and talent development from the Confederation of African Football.
The Gambia’s hopes of reaching the finals of the WAFU A U-15 African School Football Championship have been dashed after defeats to neighbours Senegal in the semifinals.The Gambia’s boys team lost 1-0 to Senegal, while the girls' side also went down 1-0 to Senegal, ending their chances of a final spot.Both teams will now battle for bronze: the girls will face Guinea-Bissau, and the boys will face Mauritania in the third-place play-off.In the other semifinals, Guinea Conakry defeated Mauritania 3-0 in the boys category, while in the girls' category, Guinea-Bissau lost 6-0 to Guinea Conakry. The championship is being hosted by The Gambia at the Gambinos Complex in Mandinary Village, Western Region.
Young Gambian forward, Alasana Yirajang made a resounding statement for SK Slovan Bratislava, netting the decisive goal in their 2-1 victory over Spanish side Rayo Vallecano in the UEFA Europa Conference League. This win not only marked the Slovak side's first triumph of the season in the tournament but also etched Yirajang's name in history as he secured his first-ever professional goal in European competitions.The young Gambian forward, celebrated for his explosive speed and technical skill, seized the moment brilliantly, converting a perfectly timed assist and igniting hope for his team as they embark on their European journey. With this win, SK Slovan Bratislava has taken a significant step in their European campaign, and Yirajang's goal will undoubtedly be remembered as a defining moment in their journey.
The Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) and football's world governing body, FIFA, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to allocate up to one billion US Dollars in concessional loans for building and rehabilitating sports stadiums and infrastructure in developing countries.The partnership aims to support nations and FIFA Member Associations with strategies to use sport for national development, focusing on FIFA-certified stadiums and surrounding facilities.It highlights sports' economic impact, contributing nearly 2% of the global GDP, and aims to close the gap in world-class facilities among nations.The initiative will help governments design and build modern multi-sport venues that support community, education, and inclusion, creating jobs and boosting local businesses.Through concessional loans, SFD and FIFA will collaborate with authorities to fund projects that foster economic resilience and capacity building, also attracting other development partners.SFD CEO Sultan bin Abdulrahman Al-Marshad emphasises sport as a catalyst for development and inclusion.Gianni Infantino, the FIFA President, states the partnership will provide up to USD 1 billion to enhance FIFA-certified stadiums, supporting FIFA Member Associations worldwide. This partnership elevates sport infrastructure in SFD's development agenda, building on over 50 years of impact supporting more than 800 projects worth USD 22 billion in 100 countries, fostering growth, health, employment, and community ties.
Gambia's unstoppable winger, Yankuba Minteh, showed a master class performance for his Brighton side in their 2-1 comeback victory over Brentford in round 12 of the Premier League. The 21-year-old showed a true moment of quality to inspire a dominant second-half performance by Brighton after they fell behind in the 29th minute when Igor Thiago rolled home from the penalty spot after a foul by Baleba.According to reports, Minteh is the only U21 player to be directly involved in 15 Premier League goals since the start of last season as he scored 7 goals and made 8 assists. (Picture, Brighton)Minteh, with his mesmeric movements then inspired a Brighton comeback. First, he assisted Danny Welbeck's equaliser with a teasing cross in the 71st minute. He then got involved in the build-up of the winning goal, when he cut in from the right and had his shot blocked in the box before the ball fell to the path of Jack Hinshelwood, who powered home in the 84th minute as Brighton moved to 6th in the EPL standings with 19 points.According to a BBC sports rating, Minteh was the 4th most outstanding performer with 8.06.The Gambian starlet is already establishing himself as a dependable player at Brighton despite being one of the youngest in their ranks.
Banjul, The Gambia: 30th October 2025 - The Gambia Football Federation (GFF) is pleased to announce the conclusion of the Scorpions' 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign, marked by a commendable display of talent and resilience on the pitch, despite significant financial and logistical challenges.The recent FIFA windows in September and October saw the national team compete in four crucial matches, securing three impressive victories and suffering a lone defeat against Gabon. During this period, Coach Johnathan McKinstry's charges netted 15 goals while conceding only five. Overall, The Gambia's campaign encompassed 10 matches, yielding four wins and one draw. Notably, the Scorpions distinguished themselves as the highest-scoring African team in the qualifiers, with a remarkable tally of 27 goals.Such extensive participation in international competitions naturally carries significant financial demands on the country. The GFF has been proactive in seeking support and managing these costs. In the September window, a budget of GMD 29,603,475.00 was submitted. The Government, through the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MOYS), provided GMD 10,000,000.00, representing 34%, leaving a substantial shortfall of GMD 19,603,475.00, which amounts to 66%. Whereas in October, an amount of GMD 17,973,814.00 was actually spent after we lost one of the two matches. The MOYS again contributed GMD 10,000,000.00. Additionally, the GFF proactively arranged GMD 12,391,395.00 for essential air tickets for players and officials, utilising bank financing to bridge the immediate funding gap. This brought the total actual cost for the October window to GMD 30,365,209.00. Consequently, the remaining financial responsibility fell on the GFF, amounting to GMD 20,365,209.00.To provide transparency, for the October window's total cost of GMD 30,365,209.00, the Ministry's contribution represented approximately 33%, while the GFF was responsible for sourcing the remaining 67% through its own funds (FIFA Forward operational and development costs) and significant bank financing.These considerable financial commitments have unfortunately necessitated the GFF to curtail some of its planned programs, including support to members, redirection of project funds, and cutting down the size of national team delegations. Furthermore, the players are currently owed outstanding win bonuses totalling GMD 13,609,125.00, accumulated from three victories, which the GFF is actively working to settle.The GFF underscores the critical importance of national teams participating in FIFA-mandated matches, not only to avoid potential FIFA sanctions, including financial restrictions and suspensions, but also for the invaluable development of Gambian football. This campaign saw a remarkable 25 new professional players make their senior national team debuts under Coach McKinstry, a testament to the positive impact of this international exposure on nurturing Gambian talent.The GFF extends its deepest gratitude to the Government of the Gambia for its continued support and collaboration, the Ministry of Youth and Sports for its contributions, and, most importantly, to our passionate fans and dedicated stakeholders for their unwavering encouragement and understanding during these financially demanding times. While the building of a more complete and competitive team is an ongoing process, the GFF remains committed to nurturing Gambian talent and striving for excellence on the international stage
Young Gambian wrestlers Muhammed Faal and Ousman Sakho grabbed bronze medals for the Gambia in the 65kg and 60kg wrestling competitions in the ongoing African School Games in Algeria. Muhammed, who faced strong competition from two Algerians and a Tunisian wrestler in the 65kg category, settled for a bronze after missing a spot in the finals.Ousman Sakho, who lost to an Algerian and a Tunisian wrestler in a pool of three in the 60kg category, also settled for a bronze medal. Hopes are high for the other Gambian athletes competing in other disciplines.
The Gambia's basketball quartet of Abdoulie Taylor, Mustapha Touray, Muhammed J. Camara, and Foday Gorgi Sowe have clinched a gold medal in the African School Games 3x3 basketball competition in the Algerian city of Annaba. Team Gambia, which defeated Ghana in the late evening semifinal game on Tuesday, takes on the Central African Republic a few hours later in the finals. The Team, under the guidance of coach Badara Jeng, has been simply too strong in the group stages. They showed a highly impressive performance to edge out the Central African Republic in a 21-18 scoreline to become the first Gambian team in the ongoing African School Games to win gold medals.
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