Gambian Coach Optimistic Amid Missing Key Players for Gabon Showdown

By Ousman Baldeh

The Gambia is bracing up for a tough battle against Gabon for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers as eleven of the nation’s key players will miss crucial showdown. However, despite these big absences in the senior squad for the Thursday, 12th of November 2020 show-down, the national team coach Tom Saintfiet has expressed optimism for victory, as he announced his 23-man squad.

Coach Saintfiet was speaking to local media, where he broke the news and outlined his contingency plan.

The players to miss the Gabon match include star strikers Assan Ceesay and Lamin Jallow, who are both reported ill, while powerful forward Muhammad Badamosi is out due to injury.

The Scorpion’s gaffer said other clubs are unwilling to release their players to join the team in Gabon ahead of the game. “For Alasana Manneh, his club Gornik Zabrze refuses to release him due to the new FIFA rule; Nuha Marong Krubally’s Granada also refused to release him too, while forward Modou Secka Barrow is out due to family reasons,” the coach confirmed.

With regard to the changes he is forced to make, Coach Saintfiet intimated the media that Dembo Darboe and Abdoulie Sanyang replace Assan Ceesay and Lamin Jallow while Khalifa Manneh and Adama Jammeh replaced Barrow and Nuha Marong.

He described the 23-man team as formidable but acknowledged that it will be difficult. “It was a very difficult selection because we have so many players who have the quality to play for the country. Naturally, we took into account the limited time with the national team to prepare the team. So we choose players who know the system, the way of working and easy to adapt with.

The Scorpions boss said the final list comprises the main crop of players that took part in the team’s training camp in Portugal where the Gambia won Congo in the international friendly. “The game against Angola last year and DR Congo also makes it naturally difficult that some players who have the quality to play for the country still have to be released “.

Saintfiet applauded the GFF for the timely and efficient arrangements of a chartered flight from Brussels en route to Libreville for the game and other logistics. “I must say that I am very happy with the GFF for arranging a special flight for us from Brussels to Libreville without hindrance which is unique and this shows the importance the GFF attaches to the national team particularly this game”.

The Scorpions’ European contingent was expected to travel from their Europe based destinations to Brussels from Monday en-route to Libreville while the Gambian contingent that comprises the backroom staff and officials had already arrived safely in Libreville ahead of the 12th November match in Franceville.

The Gambia is currently on top of group D with 4 points levelled with Gabon but the Scorpions have a better goal lead.

The full list of missing players:

Assan Ceesay, Lamin Jallow, Muhammed Badamosi, Alasana Manneh, Nuha Marong Krubally, Sulayman Bojang, Ebrima Darboe, Modou Barrow, Yusupha Bobb, Alasanna Jatta, Maudo Jarjué.

The final squad to face Gabon:

Modou Jobe, Sheikh Sibi, Baboucar Gaye, Pa Modou Jagne, Omar Colley, Buba Sanneh, Noah Sonko Sundberg, Mohammed Mbye, Robin Utseth Björnholm Jatta, Dawda Ngum, Ebrima Sohna, Sulayman Marreh, Sainey Njie, Ebrima Colley, Musa Barrow, Buba Jobe, Ablie Jallow, Steve Trawally, Kalifa Manneh, Abdoulie Sanyang, Dembo Darboe, Adama Jammeh.