Gambia national team head coach Johnathan McKinstry has announced a preliminary 35-man squad for the upcoming 2027 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers in September.
The Scorpions will face Somalia at home on September 25th and then play away against Ghana in Accra four days later. The game against Somalia will mark the Scorpions’ return to Bakau’s Independence Stadium after a lengthy period of renovation.
Yankuba Minteh misses out through injury, while 21-year-old Nfansu Njie has earned his first senior call-up. Omar Colley, Musa Barrow and Alieu Fadera are among the stars headlining the squad. According to Gambia Football Federation, the team would likely play a potential friendly before the qualifiers.
“Since the next window is extended and allows national teams to play up to four matches, McKinstry’s team is negotiating a potential friendly in Bakau on or before the October 6 deadline,” read part of the statement. “However, this plan still needs to be confirmed.”
Speaking while unveiling the squad, McKinstry said the Scorpions were looking forward to play on home soil after a very long period. “There is great excitement across the group about finally returning to the Independence Stadium,” said McKinstry.
“This will be the Scorpions’ first home match since March 2021 and our first in front of our supporters since November 2019. For many of our players, it will be their first chance to represent The Gambia on home soil,” added McKinstry.
Gambia squad;
Goalkeepers: Baboucarr Gaye (Shkendija), Sheikh Sibi (Virtus Verona), Ebrima Jarju (Paide).
Defenders: Omar Colley (Al-Diriyah), Sheriff Sinyan (Rapid Bucharest), Yaya Bojang (Alverca), James Gomez (Odense BK), Mamadou Jobe (Stockport County), Alagie Saine (AC Horsens), Joseph Colley (KF Tirana), Tijan Sonha (Radnik Surdulica), Ibou Touray (Bradford City), Sainey Sanyang (Botev Vratsa), Joseph Ceesay (Empoli).
Midfielders: Ebou Adams (Portsmouth FC), Abubakr Barry (RB Salzburg), Mouhamadou Drammeh (Universitatea Cluj), Mahmudu Bajo (FC Crvena Zvezda), Karamba Gassama (Gaziantep), Saidou Khan (Club Africain).
Forwards: Suleiman Camara (Slovan Bratislava), Abdoulie Manneh (Cercle Brugge), Musa Barrow (Al Khaleej), Ebrima Colley (Konyaspor), Abdoulie Sanyang (Hajduk Split), Alieu Fadera (Cagliari), Salieu Drammeh (Standard Liège), Musa Juwara (Pogon Szczecin), Alasana Yirajang (Slovan Bratislava), Nfansu Njie (ETO FC), Adama Sidibeh (Stockport County), Abdoulie Ceesay (St. Pauli), Adama Bojang (Charleroi), Alassana Jatta (Casa Pia), Mohamed Badamosi (Riga).
