Gambia forward Ajara Samba says the Women’s Scorpions are ready to make history when they face Burkina Faso in the Total Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Ghana 2018 first round qualifying on Saturday, 7 April 2018 in Ouagadougou.
The Gambia’s senior Women’s national team has never participated in the AWCON qualifiers despite qualifying for the FIFA Women’s U-17 World Cup in Azerbaijan 2012 where they existed in the group stages.
The past few years has seen massive improvements in the women’s game with the formation of the senior national team headed by former player Mariama Sowe.
“I’m honored to be part of the Gambia’s first senior women’s national team to participate in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers,”.
“The team is well prepared and for sure we will make it because we’ve been training for over six months and playing both local and international friendly matches”.
Mariama Sowe’s charges had a brief training camp in Morocco where they played a friendly on Monday, 2 April 2018 against the Moroccan national team ending 2-1 to the hosts with Star striker Adama Tamba only the score sheet for the Gambia in the first period but a rejuvenated Morocco side scored twice to end the friendly on a 2-1 note for the hosts.
“I don’t know how the Burkinabe team plays but the only thing we’re concentrating on is our own preparations for the first leg in Ouagadougou,” said Coach Mariama Sowe.
Gambia will be boosted by the return of Adama Tamba who is the league’s leading scorer with 25 goals for leaders Red Scorpions.
The 19 year olds exploit was noticed by French side Paris Saint German who offered her a two weeks trial last year after her fifty goals with Red Scorpions last season.
The return fixture is scheduled for Tuesday, 10 April 2018 at the Independence Stadium in Bakau, with the winner facing record champions Nigeria for a place at the final tournament in Ghana from 17 November to 1 December 2018 in the cities of Accra and Cape Coast.
The top three teams will be Africa’s representatives at the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019.
Gambia’s Squad. 
Goalkeepers: Mariama Ceesay, Aminata Gaye
Defenders: Amie Jarju, Mariama Bojang, Rugi Joof, Clara Gomez, Mama Saidy, Mamie Sylva
Midfielders: Metta Sanneh, Awa Jawo, Penda Bah, Binta Colley, Awa Tamba, Fanta Jarju
Forwards: Ajara Samba, Adama Tamba, Jabou Jobarteh, Aminata Camara, Isatou Jallow, Mam Drammeh