A busy schedule awaits the participating teams from November 2020 in the battle for spots to the final tournament of the competition (AFCON) and as such, Scorpions head Coach Tom Saintfiet on Monday 14th September, 2020 unveiled his 40 players (provisional squad) selected for the FIFA friendlies of October.
The Gambia is expected to travel to Algarve in the south of Portugal for a training camp from 5th until 14 October, 2020. It is confirmed that the team will have a competitive friendly match with Guinea on October 13th, whilst there are also plans to find another opponent with the specific team and date to be announced soon.
Meanwhile, Guinea (74 on FIFA ranking) tops its AFCON qualification group with 4 points ahead of Mali, Namibia and Chad. The Gambia is currently 159 on the FIFA ranking and also leading its AFCON qualification group with 4 points ahead of Gabon, DR Congo and Angola.
The Scorpion’s gaffer noted that Hamza Barry and Buba Jobe are both not available due injuries and Ibou Touray prefers his club ahead of the National Team.
PROVISIONAL LIST IN FULL
| NAME | POSITION | TEAM |
| 1. Modou Jobe | GK | (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia) |
| 2. Sheikh Sibi | GK | (Virtus Verona, Italy) |
| 3. Baboucarr Gaye | GK | (Rot Weiss Koblenz, Germany) |
| 4. Salifu Senghore | GK | (FC Lahti, Finland) |
| 5. Pa Modou Jagne | LB | (Switzerland) |
| 6. Robin Utseth Björnholm-Jatta | LB/CB/RB | (Stjördals Blink IL, Norway) |
| 7. Noah Sonko Sundberg | CB/LB | (FK Östersunds, Sweden) |
| 8. Omar Colley | CB | (Sampdoria, Italy) |
| 9. Buba Sanneh | CB | (Anderlecht, Belgium) |
| 10. Sheriff Sinyan | CB | (Molde FK, Norway) |
| 11. Mohammed Mbye | CB | (IFÖ Bromölla IF, Sweden) |
| 12. Maudo Jarjué | CB/RB/DM | (Austria Wien, Austria) |
| 13. Cody Drameh | RB | (Leeds United, England) |
| 14. Saidy Janko | RB | (FC Porto, Portugal) |
| 15. Sulayman Bojang | RB | (Sarpsborg 08) |
| 16. Ngine Faye Njie | RB/CB | (CasaSports, Senegal) |
| 17. Dawda Ngum | RB/DM | (BK Bronshoj, Denmark) |
| 18. Ebrima Sohna | DM | (FC Mosta, Malta) |
| 19. Sulayman Marreh | CM | (AA Gent, Belgium) |
| 20. Yusupha Bobb | CM | (Italy) |
| 21. Ebou Adams | CM | (Forest Green Rovers) |
| 22. Alasana Manneh | CM | (Gornik Zabrze, Poland) |
| 23. Sainey Njie | DM | (DAC Dunajská Streda, Slovakia) |
| 24. Ablie Jallow | AM/WING | (RFC Seraing, Belgium) |
| 25. Ebrima Colley | WING/AM | (Atalanta Bergamo, Italy) |
| 26. Musa Barrow | WING/CS | (FC Bologna, Italy) |
| 27. Musa Juwara | WING | (FC Bologna, Italy) |
| 28. Modou Barrow | WING | (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors,
S. Korea) |
| 29. Steve Trawally | WING/CS | (Al-Shabab, Saudi Arabia) |
| 30. Lamin Jallow | WING | (Salernitana, Italy) |
| 31. Kalifa Manneh | WING | (Catania, Italy) |
| 32. Adama Jammeh | WING | (Etoile du Sahel, Tunisia) |
| 33. Yusupha Njie | WING/AM | (Boavista, Portugal) |
| 34. Abdoulie Sanyang | WING | (Beerschot, Belgium) |
| 35. Assan Ceesay | CS | (FC Zürich, Switzerland) |
| 36. Muhammed Badamosi | CS | (FUS Rabat, Morocco) |
| 37. Alasanna Jatta | CS | (Viborg FF, Denmark) |
| 38. Nuha Marong Krubally | CS | (Granada, Spain) |
| 39. Ali Sowe | CS | (CSKA Sofia, Bulgaria) |
| 40. Dembo Darboe | CS | (FC Shkupi, North Macedonia) |
The Gambia is yet to feature at CAF’s flagship tournament. However, with Coach Tom Saintfiet at the helm of affairs for the gallant Scorpions, there is every reason of hope for the Gambia’s maiden appearance of the continental showpiece, Cameroon 2022.
The Scorpions are in strong footing as group D leaders to continue blazing the trail under the Belgian tactician Tom Saintfiet, and will square it off with counterparts Gabon when the competition resumes in November, 2020.
Coach Tom Saintfiet will hold a press conference via ZOOM with a specific date to be announced soon.
