The national team players are expected to meet at the southern Portuguese resort of Algarve for a camping in preparation of two friendly matches, says, Gambia Football Federation(GFF).

One against Guinea Conakry, and the other against Congo Brazzaville. The African Cup of Nations 2022 qualifiers finals will resume in November in Cameroon, ending nine months of absence.

The Gambia is to play against Gabon twice in a space of a few days. Coach Tom Saintfiet, has selected a provisional squad with no local-based player, he says, no local based players are selected due to the current restrictions on travel imposed by Covid-19 pandemic which would not be easy for the players to obtain visa or allowed to enter Portugal.

His reason sounds valid but are the restrictions not applicable to their international players and the officials who will travel from Banjul to portugal? Meanwhile, the football lovers and fans of the scorpions are excited about the return of the Scorpions into action and the role of the authorities towards this assignment.

Not many football fans in the Gambia follow the national or local champions, it can be said that, Gambian football lovers are more concerned about the international football scene like the champions league and the rest. They only follow Gambian football when the national team is involved.

The only way to remedy this problem is to develop and produce a standard national football team with savvy players and improve the sport sector especially football, only then, Gambians would have more interest in local football championships, and anticipate to at least see Gambia playing in major international tournaments.

 

By: Sainabou Jasseh