Banjul, 14th April 2025: The Ministry of Youth and Sports has announced that following an inspection conducted on Wednesday, 9th April 2025, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has granted temporary approval for the Independence Stadium.
This development enables the Gambia Football Federation (GFF) to host two upcoming international matches on home soil: the CHAN 2024 Qualifiers (2nd Stage) between The Gambia and Algeria, and the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Qualifiers (1st Round) between The Gambia and Côte d’Ivoire.
In a letter addressed to the GFF dated 11th April 2025, CAF acknowledged the significant improvements made to the stadium’s pitch. The continental football governing body granted temporary approval for the two matches while emphasising the need for the remaining pitch equipment to meet full standards required for permanent certification.
The Ministry, and by extension the Government, assures the public of its continued commitment to procure the necessary equipment for the proper maintenance and upkeep of the stadium, paving the way for final approval.
Reacting to the development, Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports, Bakary Y. Badjie, stated:
“The temporary approval by CAF is a testament to our collective efforts in upgrading the Independence Stadium. We remain committed to ensuring all necessary equipment and standards are met for permanent certification, so our national teams can continue playing at home.”
President of the Gambia Football Federation, Lamin Kaba Bajo, also expressed his delight:
“The decision was received with much joy and delight. It comes at a time when both players and fans have grown frustrated over the prolonged absence of home matches. I believe hosting these two games will re-energize the teams and lead to positive outcomes.”
Mr. Bajo further commended the Government for its dedication to the reconstruction and remodeling of the stadium:
“We acknowledge the government’s commitment, which saw the allocation of significant funds for this important national project. My sincere appreciation also goes to CAF and its leadership for their continued guidance and understanding throughout the process. Most importantly, I thank our loyal fans for their patience during this difficult period.”
Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Saffie Sankareh Farage, added: “This milestone reflects the government’s dedication to sports development and infrastructure. We will not relent in our efforts to fully equip and maintain the stadium to meet CAF’s permanent approval criteria.”
By Lamarana S. Jallow
