Gambia national football team

This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Gambia women's national football team.

The Gambia national football team (recognized as The Gambia by FIFA)^[3] represents The Gambia in men's international football and is controlled by the Gambia Football Federation. Until 1965, the team and the country were known as British Gambia. The team has never qualified for the World Cup. In 2021, Gambia qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations finals for the first time in history. The team represents both FIFA and Confederation of African Football (CAF).^{[citation needed]}

Gambia

Nickname(s)	The Scorpions
Association	Gambia Football Federation (GFF)
Confederation	CAF (Africa)
Sub-confederation	WAFU (West Africa)
Head coach	Johnny McKinstry
Captain	Omar Colley
Most caps	Omar Colley (55)
Top scorer	Assan Ceesay (13)
Home stadium	Independence Stadium
FIFA code	GAM
First colours Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current	126 1 (3 April 2025)[1]
Highest	65 (June 2009)
Lowest	179 (March 2017)
First international
British Gambia 2–1 Sierra Leone (Gambia; 9 February 1953)
Biggest win
Gambia 6–0 Lesotho  (Bakau, Gambia; 13 October 2002)[2]
Biggest defeat
Guinea 8–0 Gambia  (Guinea; 14 May 1972)
Africa Cup of Nations
Appearances	2 (first in 2021)
Best result	Quarter-finals (2021)

History

Under the name British Gambia, the team played their first ever game on 9 February 1953 against Sierra Leone, winning 2–1 at home in a friendly.^[4] In April 1963, the team entered the L'Amitié tournament in Senegal, a competition mainly for French-speaking nations. They were drawn in a group with France's amateur team, the Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso) and Gabon. Their first match was lost 5–1 to the French amateurs on 11 April. The Gambia drew 2–2 with the Upper Volta on 13 April, and had the same result the very next day versus Gabon. The Gambia did not advance to the next round.

After the tournament in Senegal, the Gambia did not play another match until 16 November 1968, when they travelled to Sierra Leone to play its team in a friendly and lost 2–1. They played again in Sierra Leone in The Gambia's next match on 24 April 1971, and the hosts won 3–1. On 2 May 1971, The Gambia travelled to Guinea for a friendly and lost 4–2. On 14 May 1972, The Gambia returned to Guinea for their first African Games qualifier and lost 8–0 and were knocked out.

In 1975, the Gambia entered its first qualification campaign for the 1976 Summer Olympics in Canada. They were drawn in a qualifier against Guinea, and lost the first leg 1–0 at home on 27 April 1975. The second leg was lost 6–0 in Guinea on 1 June as Guinea advanced 7–0 on aggregate.

In August of that same year, the Gambia entered their first qualification for the African Cup of Nations, with the aim of reaching the 1976 finals in Ethiopia. They were drawn in a two-legged qualifier against Morocco and lost the first leg 3–0 away on 10 August. They lost by the same score in their home leg on 24 August and Morocco advanced 6–0 on aggregate.

After the qualification campaign for the 1976 finals, The Gambia played their first match against a full European side, losing a home friendly 4–1 to Denmark on 30 January 1977.^[5]

On 13 October 2002, the team got their biggest ever victory in international competition, a 6–0 victory against Lesotho.^[2]

In May 2014, the Gambia was banned from all CAF competitions for two years after deliberately falsifying players' ages.^[6]

The nation's fortunes improved in qualification for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. Although they failed to qualify, they took it to the final round of games, including drawing twice with African giants Algeria.

On 13 November, in their first Group D match of 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification, Gambia defeated Angola 1–3 in Luanda. This was the Scorpions' first away win in an AFCON or FIFA World Cup qualifier ever, at their 40th attempt. An impressive campaign saw them qualify for their first ever major tournament that year. As the lowest-ranked team in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, the Gambia defied the odds by defeating favourites Tunisia in the group stage, finishing unbeaten in 2nd place in the group. A further win against Guinea in the Round of 16 saw them reach the quarter-finals at their first attempt, eventually going out to tournament hosts Cameroon.

Home stadium

The Independence Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Bakau, Gambia. It is currently used mostly for football matches, although it is also used for music concerts, political events, trade fairs and national celebrations. The stadium holds 30,000 people.^[7]

Results and fixtures

Main article: Gambia national football team results (2020–present)

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixture

2024

Senegal  v  Gambia

15 January 2023 AFCON GS	Senegal	3–0	Gambia	Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast
14:00 UTC+0	P. Gueye 4' Camara 52', 86'	Report		Stadium: Charles Konan Banny Stadium Attendance: 7,896 Referee: Redouane Jiyed (Morocco)

Guinea  v  Gambia

19 January 2023 AFCON GS	Guinea	1–0	Gambia	Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast
	A. Camara 69'	Report		Stadium: Charles Konan Banny Stadium Attendance: 19,822 Referee: Abdel Aziz Bouh (Mauritania)

Gambia  v  Cameroon

23 January 2023 AFCON GS	Gambia	2–3	Cameroon	Bouaké, Ivory Coast
17:00	Jallow 72' E. Colley 85'	Report	Toko Ekambi 56' Gomez 87' (o.g.) Wooh 90+1'	Stadium: Stade de la Paix Attendance: 24,172 Referee: Bamlak Tessema Weyesa (Ethiopia)

Gambia  v  Seychelles

8 June 2026 World Cup qualification	Gambia	5–1	Seychelles	Berkane, Morocco
17:00 UTC+1	Badamosi 10', 66' Barrow 52' (pen.) Minteh 55' Sidibeh 78'	Report	Henriette 14'	Stadium: Berkane Municipal Stadium Attendance: 700 Referee: Joseph Odey Ogabor (Nigeria)

Gabon  v  Gambia

11 June 2026 World Cup qualification	Gabon	3–2	Gambia	Franceville, Gabon
20:00 UTC+1	Allevinah 52' Aubameyang 70' Bouanga 71'	Report	Minteh 33' Adams 76'	Stadium: Stade de Franceville Referee: Sadok Selmi (Tunisia)

Comoros  v  Gambia

4 September 2025 AFCON qualification	Comoros	1–1	Gambia	El Jadida, Morocco
16:00 UTC+1	M'Changama 37'	Report	Barrow 45+1'	Stadium: Ben M'Hamed El Abdi Stadium Referee: Chelangat Sabilla (Uganda)

Gambia  v  Tunisia

8 September 2025 AFCON qualification	Gambia	1–2	Tunisia	El Jadida, Morocco
16:00 UTC+1	Sowe 14'	Report	Abdi 11' Ben Romdhane 75'	Stadium: Ben M'Hamed El Abdi Stadium Attendance: 1,000 Referee: Tewodros Mitiku (Ethiopia)

Madagascar  v  Gambia

11 October 2024 (2024-10-11) 2025 AFCON qualification	Madagascar	1–1	Gambia	Casablanca, Morocco
15:00 UTC+1	Couturier 45+2'	Report	Minteh 90+7'	Stadium: Larbi Zaouli Stadium Referee: Chelanget Sabila (Uganda)

Gambia  v  Madagascar

14 October 2024 (2024-10-14) 2025 AFCON qualification	Gambia	1–0	Madagascar	El Jadida, Morocco
15:00 UTC+1	Barrow 62'	Report		Stadium: Ben M'Hamed El Abdi Stadium Referee: Bouchra Karboubi (Morocco)

Gambia  v  Comoros

15 November 2024 (2024-11-15) 2025 AFCON qualification	Gambia	1–2	Comoros	Berkane, Morocco
--:--	Jatta 18'	Report	Saïd 25' Maolida 90'	Stadium: Berkane Municipal Stadium Referee: Ibrahim Mutaz (Libya)

Tunisia  v  Gambia

18 November 2024 (2024-11-18) 2025 AFCON qualification	Tunisia	0–1	Gambia	Tunis, Tunisia
20:00 UTC+1		Report	Ceesay 17'	Stadium: Hammadi Agrebi Stadium Referee: Daniel Nii Ayi Laryea (Ghana)

2025

Gambia  v  Kenya

20 March 2026 World Cup qualification	Gambia	3–3	Kenya	Abidjan, Ivory Coast
20:00	Barrow 55', 84' Minteh 61'	Report	Olunga 69' (pen.) Bajaber 75' Wilson 90+6'	Stadium: Alassane Ouattara Stadium Referee: Abdou Abdel Mefire (Cameroon)

Ivory Coast  v  Gambia

24 March 2026 World Cup qualification	Ivory Coast	1–0	Gambia	Abidjan, Ivory Coast
20:00	Haller 15'	Report		Stadium: Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium Attendance: 19,471 Referee: Ring Nyier Akech Malong (South Sudan)

Uganda  v  Gambia

9 June Friendly	Uganda	v	Gambia	Marrakech, Morocco
				Stadium: Stade de Marrakech

Kenya  v  Gambia

September 2026 World Cup qualification

Kenya

v

Gambia

Gambia  v  Burundi

September 2026 World Cup qualification

Gambia

v

Burundi

Gambia  v  Gabon

October 2026 World Cup qualification

Gambia

v

Gabon

Seychelles  v  Gambia

October 2026 World Cup qualification

Seychelles

v

Gambia

Coaching history

Johnathan McKinstry became the manager of the national football team of the Gambia in 2024

• Hans Heiniger (1987–1992)
• Sang Ndong (1992-1994)
• Sang Ndong (1994–2003)
• Antoine Hey (2006–2007)
• José Martínez (2007–2008)
• Paul Put (2008–2011)
• Peter Bonu Johnson (2011–2012)
• Luciano Mancini (2012–2013)
• Peter Bonu Johnson (2013–2015)
• Raoul Savoy (2015)
• Sang Ndong (2016–2018)
• Tom Saintfiet (2018–2024)
• Johnny McKinstry (2024–)

Management and staff

Position	Name
Head Coach	Johnny McKinstry
Assistant Coaches	Sulayman Ceesay Omar Barrow
Goalkeeping Coach	Musa Touray
Fitness Coach	Edrissa Jatta
Match Analyst	Alieu Drammeh
Doctors	Dr. Ousman Colley Dr. Alhagie Jawara
Physiotherapists	Ebrima Jallow Modou Jarra Alassan Fofanah Hassan Darboe
Team Coordinator	Adama Sanyang
Technical Director	Sang Ndong

Players

Current squad

The following players were called up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against Kenya and Ivory Coast on 20 and 24 March 2025.^[8]

Caps and goals correct as of 24 March 2025, after the match against Ivory Coast.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
	1GK	Ebrima Jarju	(1998-03-16) 16 March 1998 (age 27)	8	0	Paide
	1GK	Sheikh Sibi	(1998-02-21) 21 February 1998 (age 27)	5	0	Virtus Verona
	1GK	Musa Dibaga	(2000-04-27) 27 April 2000 (age 25)	0	0	Inverness
	2DF	Omar Colley (captain)	(1992-10-24) 24 October 1992 (age 32)	60	1	PAOK
	2DF	Joseph Ceesay	(1998-06-03) 3 June 1998 (age 26)	7	0	Cesena
	2DF	Sheriff Sinyan	(1996-07-19) 19 July 1996 (age 28)	7	0	CFR Cluj
	2DF	Omar Gaye	(1998-09-18) 18 September 1998 (age 26)	6	0	Francavilla
	2DF	Momodou Lion Njie	(2001-12-10) 10 December 2001 (age 23)	3	0	KFUM Oslo
	2DF	Dadi Gaye	(1995-03-21) 21 March 1995 (age 30)	2	0	Tromsø
	3MF	Ablie Jallow	(1998-11-14) 14 November 1998 (age 26)	38	8	Metz
	3MF	Ebou Adams	(1996-01-15) 15 January 1996 (age 29)	26	1	Derby County
	3MF	Ebrima Darboe	(2001-06-06) 6 June 2001 (age 23)	19	0	Frosinone
	3MF	Alasana Manneh	(1998-04-08) 8 April 1998 (age 27)	19	0	Hibernian
	3MF	Mahmudu Bajo	(2004-08-15) 15 August 2004 (age 20)	6	0	FC DAC 1904
	3MF	Abubakr Barry	(2000-07-02) 2 July 2000 (age 24)	3	0	Austria Wien
	3MF	Saikou Touray	(2000-06-06) 6 June 2000 (age 24)	0	0	Grenoble
	4FW	Musa Barrow	(1998-11-14) 14 November 1998 (age 26)	48	11	Al Taawoun
	4FW	Abdoulie Sanyang	(1999-05-08) 8 May 1999 (age 26)	19	0	Hajduk Split
	4FW	Ali Sowe	(1994-06-14) 14 June 1994 (age 30)	19	1	Çaykur Rizespor
	4FW	Alieu Fadera	(2001-11-03) 3 November 2001 (age 23)	15	0	Como
	4FW	Yankuba Minteh	(2004-07-22) 22 July 2004 (age 20)	15	5	Brighton & Hove Albion
	4FW	Abdoulie Ceesay	(2004-01-05) 5 January 2004 (age 21)	5	1	St. Pauli
	4FW	Alassana Jatta	(1999-01-12) 12 January 1999 (age 26)	3	1	Notts County
	4FW	Gibril Sillah	(1998-09-07) 7 September 1998 (age 26)	0	0	Azam

Recent call-ups

The following players have also been called up to the Gambia squad within the last twelve months.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
GK	Lamin Saidy	(2001-06-17) 17 June 2001 (age 23)	2	0	Real de Banjul	v.  Tunisia, 18 November 2024
GK	Lamin Sarr	(2001-03-11) 11 March 2001 (age 24)	0	0	Lunds BK	v.  Gabon, 11 June 2024
DF	Ibou Touray	(1994-12-24) 24 December 1994 (age 30)	27	0	Stockport County	v.  Tunisia, 18 November 2024
DF	James Gomez	(2001-11-14) 14 November 2001 (age 23)	24	1	Odense	v.  Tunisia, 18 November 2024
DF	Jacob Mendy	(1996-12-27) 27 December 1996 (age 28)	3	0	Wrexham	v.  Tunisia, 18 November 2024
DF	Baboucarr Njie	(1995-06-05) 5 June 1995 (age 29)	2	0	Oakland Roots	v.  Tunisia, 18 November 2024
DF	Edrissa Ceesay	(2001-04-16) 16 April 2001 (age 24)	3	0	Jedinstvo Ub	v.  Tunisia, 8 September 2024
DF	Sainey Sanyang	(2003-04-18) 18 April 2003 (age 22)	0	0	CSKA Sofia	v.  Tunisia, 8 September 2024
DF	Muhammed Sanneh	(2000-02-19) 19 February 2000 (age 25)	12	0	Abdysh-Ata	v.  Gabon, 11 June 2024
DF	Dembo Saidykhan	(2004-01-20) 20 January 2004 (age 21)	0	0	Vancouver Whitecaps 2	v.  Gabon, 11 June 2024
MF	Saidou Khan	(1995-12-05) 5 December 1995 (age 29)	1	0	Swindon Town	v.  Madagascar, 14 October 2024
MF	Hamza Barry	(1994-05-03) 3 May 1994 (age 31)	28	1	Vejle	v.  Tunisia, 8 September 2024
MF	Yusupha Bobb	(1996-06-22) 22 June 1996 (age 28)	21	0	KAC Marrakech	v.  Gabon, 11 June 2024
FW	Suleiman Camara	(2001-12-07) 7 December 2001 (age 23)	2	0	Racing de Santander	v.  Tunisia, 18 November 2024
FW	Muhammed Badamosi	(1998-12-27) 27 December 1998 (age 26)	26	4	Čukarički	v.  Madagascar, 14 October 2024
FW	Ebrima Colley	(2000-02-01) 1 February 2000 (age 25)	28	2	Young Boys	v.  Tunisia, 8 September 2024
FW	Musa Juwara	(2001-12-26) 26 December 2001 (age 23)	5	0	Vejle	v.  Tunisia, 8 September 2024
FW	Adama Sidibeh	(1998-06-25) 25 June 1998 (age 26)	4	1	St Johnstone	v.  Tunisia, 8 September 2024
FW	Adama Bojang	(2004-05-28) 28 May 2004 (age 20)	1	0	Reims	v.  Gabon, 11 June 2024
WD Player withdrew from the squad due to non-injury issue. INJ Player withdrew from the squad due to an injury. PRE Preliminary squad. RET Player has retired from international football. SUS Suspended from the national team.

Records

As of 18 November 2024^[9]

Players in bold are still active with Gambia.

Most appearances

Omar Colley is Gambia's most capped player with 56 appearances.

Rank	Player	Caps	Goals	Career
1	Omar Colley	56	1	2012–present
2	Musa Barrow	44	9	2018-present
3	Pa Modou Jagne	43	2	2006–2022
4	Assan Ceesay	41	13	2013–present
5	Bubacarr Sanneh	40	1	2012–present
6	Ebrima Sohna	38	3	2007–2022
7	Sulayman Marreh	35	1	2011–present
8	Abdou Jammeh	33	2	2006–2015
9	Ablie Jallow	32	8	2015–present
10	Modou Jobe	31	0	2007–present

Top goalscorer

Rank	Player	Goals	Caps	Ratio	Career
1	Assan Ceesay	13	41	0.32	2013–present
2	Musa Barrow	9	44	0.2	2018–present
3	Ablie Jallow	8	32	0.25	2015–present
4	Momoudou Ceesay	6	16	0.38	2010–2015
5	Omar Samba	5	11	0.45	1995–2002
	Jatto Ceesay	5	17	0.29	1994–2007
	Mustapha Jarju	5	26	0.19	2006–2013
8	Yankuba Minteh	4	10	0.4	2022–present
	Muhammed Badamosi	4	24	0.17	2018–present
10	Samuel Kargbo	3	9	0.33	1994–1996
	Njogu Demba-Nyrén	3	15	0.2	2006–2011
	Edrissa Sonko	3	16	0.19	1996–2008
	Aziz Corr Nyang	3	17	0.18	2002–2011
	Bubacarr Jobe	3	17	0.18	2018–present
	Mamadou Danso	3	20	0.15	2011–2019
	Ebrima Ebou Sillah	3	24	0.13	1996–2008
	Ebrima Sohna	3	38	0.08	2007–2022

Competitive record

FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup record										Qualification record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA		Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1930 to 1950	Part of  United Kingdom									Part of  United Kingdom
1954 to 1966	Not a FIFA member									Not a FIFA member
1970 to 1978	Did not enter									Did not enter
1982	Did not qualify									2	0	1	1	1	2
1986										2	1	0	1	3	6
1990	Did not enter									Did not enter
1994	Withdrew									Withdrew
1998	Did not qualify									2	1	0	1	2	5
2002										2	0	0	2	0	3
2006										2	1	0	1	2	3
2010										6	2	3	1	6	3
2014										6	1	1	4	4	11
2018										2	0	1	1	2	3
2022										2	0	0	2	1	3
2026	To be determined									6	1	1	4	12	13
2030										To be determined
2034
Total	–	0/14	–	–	–	–	–	–		32	7	7	18	33	52

Africa Cup of Nations

Main article: Gambia at the Africa Cup of Nations

Africa Cup of Nations record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA
1957 to 1963	Part of United Kingdom
1965	Not affiliated to CAF
1968 to 1974	Did not enter
1976	Did not qualify
1978	Did not enter
1980 to 1988	Did not qualify
1990	Withdrew
1992	Did not qualify
1994	Did not enter
1996	Withdrew during qualifying
1998	Banned for withdrawing in 1996
2000	Withdrew
2002 to 2013	Did not qualify
2015	Banned
2017	Did not qualify
2019
2021	Quarter-finals	6th	5	3	1	1	4	3
2023	Group stage	23rd	3	0	0	3	2	7
2025	Did not qualify
2027	To be determined
2029
Total	Quarter-finals	2/35	8	3	1	4	6	10

Honours

Regional

• Amilcar Cabral Cup
  • Runners-up (3): 1980, 1985, 2001
  • Third place (1): 1993

Notes