Diabugu Batapa village in the Sandu District of Upper River Region were on Sunday crowned champions of the European Union sponsored Access to Justice Noran football tournament. The competition was organised by the National Council for Civic Education (NCCE).

The tournament, which was the last phase of the EU Access to Justice football tournaments, saw the participation of four village teams within the Sandu District namely, Diabugu Batapa FC, Misira FC, Sare Demba Toro FC and Kuraw Arfang FC.

The first phase of the noran tournament started in Brikama of the West Coast Region (WCR) and later Kwinella in Lower River Region (LRR).

The final was hosted at Kuraw Arfang Lower Basic School between Diabugu Batapa and the hosts.

Diabugu Batapa FC’s Muhammed Batchilly scored his team’s lone goal in the 36th minute of the second half.

As champions, Diabugu Batapa FC received D15, 000 with a giant trophy and a football, while runners-up Kuraw Arfang FC pocketed home a consolation prize of D7, 000 and a football. The two other participating villages, Sare Demba Toro FC and Misira FC both received 4,000 and a football each.

All the participating teams and their fans were also given EU Access to Justice Football T-shirt bearing the slogan: “Access to Justice is Your Right”.

by Lamin B. Darboe

The Champions League and Confederation Cup group stages will each double to 16 teams in 2017, the Confederation of African Football has revealed.

In each competition, 16 clubs will be divided into four groups of four at the pool stage, instead of the current eight teams divided into two groups.

Effective from next season, the new format was announced by Caf president Issa Hayatou on Wednesday.

Hayatou was speaking at Caf’s Ordinary General Assembly in Mexico.

New Fifa president Gianni Infantino was in attendance at the assembly for the first time since he was elected leader of football’s world governing body.

And Hayatou took the opportunity to highlight his belief that Africa should be given more places at future World Cup tournaments, referring to recent African success at age-restricted tournaments to support his view.

“The Under-17 World cup in 2015 featured two African teams, Nigeria and Mali, who contested the finals, with Nigeria getting the victory,” he said.

“With the Under-20 World Cup (also in 2015), we witnessed inter-African confrontation between Senegal and Mali during the third place game.

“It becomes clearly apparent that a better representation of our continent at those levels in the World Cup would just be justice. The consistency of the performances of African teams in these age-category competitions advocates that.”

Source: BBC

The Gambia Football Federation (GFF) has suspended Red Scorpions coach, Chorro Mbenga and her assistant, Dodou Faye, for the 2016/17 season for their involvement in a violence marred Cup match last month.

The GFF made the announcement yesterday in its weekly newsletter sent to Observer Sports Desk after the Organising Committee said it had found the duo guilty for participating in the physical assault of match officials leading to bodily harm in a Women Football Cup game against Interior.

The latest suspension came after the Appeals Committee had referred the matter to the Organising Committee for their urgent consideration and action.

The Appeals Committee had earlier in the week dismissed the appeal lodged by the team and upheld the decision to relegate them to the second tier and ban some players for a calendar year.

Other Suspensions

In a similar development, the GFF announced it has suspended Abdoulie Sidibeh of Bakau United Football Club for the rest of the season for hitting an opponent.

Elsewhere, Lamin United Football Club’s Sakounna Musa and technician Lamin Saine have been suspended for two matches and rest of the season respectively for using abusive languages.

“Mr. Saine is therefore not allowed to sit or stand behind the team bench nor is he to enter the dressing room before, during and after the games. Failure to comply will lead to a severe disciplinary action,” the GFF statement added.

Tallinding United Football Club’s physiotherapist Muhammed Carew has also been suspended for the rest of the season for gross misconduct.

The GFF disciplinary committee also suspended Wallidan Football Club players Bubacarr Jallow, Ismaila Jallow, Assan Njuke, Pa Omar Nyan and Sarjo Conateh for two matches each for abusive language.

“Muhammed Konna aka (Sir) a former player and supporter of Wallidan FC was found to be using abusive language persistently at the match officials, he further attacked the officials but was stopped. In this regard, Wallidan Football Club is fined the sum of D2, 000 payable on or before Wednesday May 18, 2016. Failure of which the team will not be allowed to play its next match,” the GFF added.

Player Bailo Jallow and team official Malick Camara of Serrekunda East Bi Football Club have also been suspended for two matches and rest of the season for respectively for serious foul play and gross misconduct.

“Mr. Camara is therefore not allowed to stand behind the team bench nor is he to enter the dressing room before, during and after the games. Failure to comply will lead to a severe disciplinary action. S.K East Bi Football Club is fined the sum of D2, 500 payable on or before Wednesday May 18, 2016, failure of which your team will not be allowed to play its next match.”

by Alieu Ceesay

Seaview Group, owner of Seaview Garden and Bamboo Hotels, has given an 80% reduction in terms of accommodation for all categories of the Gambia’s national football teams.

The offer, which also applies to both hotels, according to the Group, would also see both Seaview Garden and Bamboo Hotel charging at half the price of food to be consumed by the teams while lodged at their facilities.

Instead of the D2500 that the hotels used as a standard charge for the double rooms categories, Seaview Group is now offering the same service for D500, meaning D250 per person, representing an 80% reduction.

The offer also includes visiting national teams to the country. This is relevant because African teams made special arrangements where the host Federation takes care of accommodation of their visitors whenever they are involved in international competitions.

This package, which will run for an initial period of 12 months starting with immediate effect, according to the Group, is in response to a national call geared towards contributing to the development of football in The Gambia.

This offer, as stated in a letter addressed to the Minister of Youth and Sports, Alieu Kebba Jammeh, was made to the Government of The Gambia, the main financiers of the national teams.

It is expected that the millions that the Government would save in terms of hotel accommodation from the proposed agreement would now be diverted into other areas of football development in the country.

“The Seaview Group will continue to relentlessly render support where deemed necessary, all geared towards enabling The Gambia Football Federation achieve its desired goals,” a letter signed by the Group Chairman Hatib Janneh Jr, stated.

“This rate has been pegged to enable the hotel meet certain overheads like electricity and other related costs.”

The Group also expressed its heartfelt appreciation to His Excellency the President for being the first patron in the campaign, and laying the platform for them to follow suit.

The Seaview Group over the last decade has contributed immensely towards revitalising our football structure. As a partner of The Gambia for Gold campaign, the four-year initiative spearheaded by President Jammeh, which was responsible for the financing of the national teams between 2010 and 2014, the Seaview Group had donated D2, 000, 000 during the period of the campaign.

“This was further cemented by the scouting of the then much needed Coach Mr. Paul Put, by the Chairman of our Group Mr. Hatib Janneh Jr, who bore all costs relating to his accommodation, feeding and other dues, during his three months stay in The Gambia. This was to enable the GFF finalise contract with him without risking the fact of losing him, giving regards to the cost burden attached over that period of waiting to sign a contract,” the Seaview letter added.

“You will agree with me that the GFF is at present facing constraints in the football administration and thus need assistance. This situation prompted our move.”

The Group concluded by extending its sincere and heartfelt appreciation to the Scorpion U-20 team for their victory against Sierra Leone, “thus restoring confidence in the football fraternity.”

The May Day Sports Gala Dinner and Award was on Saturday night held in grand style at a local hotel in Kololi where workers including the Minister of Youth and Sports converged to wine and dine.

The 2016 event was successfully held on the 1st May at the Independence Stadium in Bakau where thousands of workers drawn from 72 public and private institutions and companies gathered to observe the day through mass sports.

Speaking at the event, Marcel Mendy, Executive Director of the National Sports Council said he was quite happy with the increasing number of participants in the annual event.

Even though the award committee has been highly praised for a well-organised event, Mendy promised a much more organised event in the future and thanked their partners and participating institutions for making the event a success.

He congratulated all the winning institutions, saying there was no loser in the event and saying he hopes to see a new revelation next year. He finally thanked the organising committee for the selfless services rendered towards the event.

Ebrima Garba Cham, Secretary General of The Gambia Workers’ Union also spoke at the event.

The event was characterised by presentation of certificates to deserving institutions and individuals. There was also presentation of cash prizes to May Day Sports event winning institutions.

Cheques for D12, 000, D11, 000 and D10, 000 were respectively presented to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners of the group category.

In Group I, the Ministry of Justice finished third position with D10, 000; Ministry of Petroleum and Energy finished second position with D11, 000; and Ministry of Higher Education finished first position with D12, 000.

In Group H, GIA finished 3rd position and received D10, 000; GRA took second with D11, 000; Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education finished 1st position with D12, 000.

In Group G, MOICI finished third place with D10, 000, NAWEC finished second position with D11, 000 and SSHFC came out 1st position with D12, 000.

In Group F, the Ministry of Defence finished 3rd position with D10, 000; Gambia Prison Service finished 2nd position with D11, 000 and The Gambia Police Force finished 1st position with D12, 000.

In Group E, GPA finished 3rd place with D10, 000, Gamtel/Gamcel finished 2nd position with D11, 000 and Gambia Armed Forces finished 1st position with D12, 000.

In Group D, GPPA finished 3rd place with D10, 000; Gambia National Library finished 2nd place with D11, 000 while Africell finished 1st position with D12, 000.

In Group C, Gambega finished 3rd place with D10, 000; KMC finished 2nd place with D11, 000; while Child Fund emerged winners with D12,000.

In Group B, KGI finished 3rd place with D10, 000; EFSTH finished 2nd place with D11,000; while GID emerged winners with D12,000.

In Group A, GCAA finished 3rd position with D10, 000; Fire and Rescue Services finished 2nd position with D11, 000; while GNPC finished as winners with D12,000.

Meanwhile, in the overall category, GAF received a cheque for D150, 000 as 3rd place winners, GNPC finished 2nd place with D250,000 and The Gambia Police Force went home with D350,000 as overall winners.

Ebrima Jatta of The Gambia Armed Forces emerged winner in the greasy pole and received a cheque for D5, 000. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs won Best Dressed Team award.

The Gambia Armed Forces women’s volleyball and The Gambia Police Force men’s volleyball teams received a cheque for D15, 000 each as winners of the volleyball competitions.

by Alieu Ceesay

The Gambia U-20 side yesterday (Monday) went to camp at the Seaview Gardens Hotel Kololi in preparation for the first leg of the second round African Youth Championship qualifiers at home to Morocco.

Coach Omar Sise and charges made it through to the second round after eliminating Sierra Leone 4-0 on aggregate in the first round; renewing Gambian hopes that the team can qualify for the tournament in Zambia next year.

The game is on Saturday at 4.30pm and a convincing win for lads would see the team take another giant step to reaching their objectives of qualifying, ahead of the deciding leg in Casablanca a fortnight later.

Two times African Football of the Year, Elhadji Diouf, described Omar Sise’s charges as unbelievable talents who have a bright future ahead of them. Diouf, who said he was impressed by the sensational performance of the boys, was speaking at the Independence Stadium in Bakau following the team’s majestic performance against Sierra Leone.

“Football is a short career in one’s life and you have to do it to be best. I have nothing to regret because I have done all what I was supposed to do as a footballer. I am quite convinced you can qualify your country. Please don’t start thinking you have achieved something because you have not done anything yet. So it is quite important to be united and have the same vision and purpose,” Diouf, who inspired Senegal to the quarterfinals of the 2002 World Cup, told the players after that game.

Meanwhile, the Moroccans have also gone to camp on Friday evening, May, 13, at the Aaadadia National Center for football Palmamorh, in anticipation of the game. Morocco’s Belgian Coach Mark Wotte has invited 23 players for the game.

The list of Moroccan players is below together with the teams and countries they play in.

by Alieu Ceesay

The Africa Dream Project has continued to shine in The Gambia since the implementation of the project in December 2014.

An initiative of the International Volleyball Federation President, Dr Ary S. Graca, the project is specifically designed for the continent with the sole aim of seeing an African country at the centre stage in world volleyball championships.

The Project under the supervision of Dr Graca is a four-year programme in volleyball development for Africa. The Gambia has launched the project officially in February 2015 with four centres set up across the country.

The Gambia Volleyball Federation over the weekend hosted a mass festival between three of the four centres namely Banjul, Kanifing and Brikama, with Farafenni the only centre missing out.

The festival was contested in categories of Under-10, Under-12 and Under-14. The programme attracted more than 200 kids from the three centres.

Speaking at the event, the Project Director, Bai Dodou Jallow, stressed his Federation’s willingness to continue developing the skills of the participants at all the centres.

“It is a commendable move and I must say I am impressed with The Gambia Volleyball Federation for the rapid changes made in Gambian volleyball; this project is worthwhile,” Bai Dodou Jallow stressed.

Jallow cited that the Federation is yet to receive the third installment payment from the Confederation of African Volleyball. But notwithstanding, he added, the Gambian Federation is continuing its work at the centres.

Story source: Muhammed Lamin Saidykhan

GSM service provider, Africell has reached an agreement with The Gambia Radio and Television Services to broadcast all 51 games of the Euro 2016 on the national broadcaster.

A contract was signed between Africell and the national broadcaster, earlier this month.

The competition, the 15th edition of this championship held every four years, will for the first time ever see 24 teams participating. The competition is hosted by France.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Musa Sise, Media Consultant for Africell, said the move taken by his institution to sponsor the airing of the Euro 2016 is meant to satisfy the interest of its customers and the general public.

“Africell is here to officially launch its coverage of the Euro 2016 to kick off in France, Paris on 10th June, 2016. It is a competition that is probably second to the World Cup because of its organisational strides and on the manner in which it is always being competed,” Sise said.

He further disclosed that there would be lucrative gifts during the period of the Euro 2016 from Africell to its subscribers.

Ebrima Barry, Human Resources Director of Africell said the Company was very proud and honoured to have sponsored the airing of Euro 2016 on public television, noting that the institution has for so long being contributing its quota to the development of sports in the country.

He promised that there are modalities in place to ensure that there is an uninterrupted broadcast of the matches.

by Alieu Ceesay &

Alhagie Babou Jallow

Gambian striker Kekuta Manneh is getting back to his devastating best with a man of the match performance at the weekend.

The past week proved to be a big one for his Vancouver Whitecaps thanks to the play of the former Steve Biko prodigy.

After notching an assist in Wednesday’s win over the Chicago Fire, Manneh played a part in all four of the Whitecaps’ goals, leading his team to its first win at BMO Field with Saturday’s 4-3 triumph over Toronto FC.

While Manneh’s performances were vital in helping the Whitecaps escape with a valuable six-point week, they also earned the forward honours as SBI, American news magazine, MLS Player of the Week.

“Manneh’s big week got an early start with an assist on Blas Perez’s spectacular game-winner on Wednesday night. However, Manneh’s best work came Saturday, starting with a 12th minute finish that gave his side the early lead,” SBI wrote on its website.

Christian Bolanos doubled the lead by smashing home a Manneh rebound before the Whitecaps speedster provided his second goal of the evening to restore the Whitecaps lead. Another assist came just two minutes later on a Pedro Morales finish that served as valuable insurance while capping off a big week for the Whitecaps.

Manneh’s performances saw him contribute to five of the Whitecaps’ six goals, lifting the forward past the likes of Roger Espinoza, Mauro Diaz, Anibal Godoy and Alvaro Saborio for this week’s honors.

Source: SBI

The construction of an artificial football pitch worth more than D30 million in the Lower River Region has been completed with the field ready for use.

The project, a FIFA sponsored project under The Gambia Football Federation, is geared towards the GFF’s drive towards decentralising football participation in The Gambia.

The pitch was installed by a Netherlands based company called Edel Grass Company. The goal posts have also been installed.

Speaking in an Observer Sports interview, Ansumana Sanneh, President of the Lower River Region Football Association, said the newly built pitch in Jarra Soma is of international standard and part of the FIFA Goal Project designed to support Member Associations on capacity building initiatives to encourage and promote the game of football especially at the grassroots level.

“Yes I can confirm that the construction of the FIFA funded artificial football pitch at the Mini-Stadium in Jarra-Soma is ready as the contractor is done with the work required; but I must also say that work on the Mini-Stadium is yet to be completed,” he told this reporter on the sidelines of the Region’s Workers Day celebrations at the weekend.

“Yes the artificial football pitch with green colour and white mark lanes is completed, but then the task that remains is the issue of the incomplete perimeter fence surrounding the field as some of the necessary adjustments needed in the main fence of the Stadium remain another challenge for my Association.”

Sanneh also highlighted that the issue of Stadium pavilions and dressing rooms plus a gate for the main entrance are amongst the other challenges, something he said, is a threat to the Stadium’s security and income generation. He further explained that his Association has engaged other stakeholders and partners like the GFF to that effect.

He seized the opportunity to call on the people of LRR to take the opportunity accorded and make best use of the pitch, noting that the millions involved in its construction is enough reason for the need to ensure that the project is sustained for the interest of everybody.

Papa Fofana, the LRR Youth and Sports Desks Officer also acknowledged and expressed appreciation over the construction of the pitch in his Region. He thanked FIFA for the support and commended Edel Grass Company for completing the project on time.

“I have no doubt in my mind that the coming up of this project in LRR is timely and important in the sense that the initiative will go along to encourage and improve youth participation on the game of football,” he said.

by Salifu M .Touray in LRR

The Gambia volleyball team that participated in the final round of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games Qualifiers for Africa held in Nigeria and Tunisia on Wednesday paid a courtesy call on the officials of The Gambia National Olympic Committee.

Bai Dodou Jallow, acting President of The Gambia Volleyball Federation, said their mission to the GNOC was to express their appreciation to the NOC for their unflinching support to the Federation.

He said the team has made the country proud in their recent competitions, while thanking all for the support.

Alhaji Momodou Dibba, President of the GNOC congratulated the players for their exceptional performance demonstrated in the competitions they represented the country.

Dibba said he was very pleased that the country is now among the top 10 countries in African volleyball and assured them of the GNOC’s continues support.

Sainabou Tambedou spoke on behalf of the players and thanked the GNOC for the support rendered to the volleyball team.

by Alhagie Babou Jallow

The Gambia Cricket Association recently embarked on a three-day cricket coaching clinics for students and a two-day introductory umpiring and scoring course for teachers in schools in the Central River Region (Janjanbureh), Lower River Region (Soma) and Upper River Region (Basse).

The programme, held from the 11th to the 13th May 2016, was part of the GCA’s initiative in expanding the game to the junior involvement based in the regions which is a strong priority of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Africa Cricket Association.

The programme started with cricket coaching clinic for students in schools in these regions and registered 299 students in LRR, 244 in URR and 270 students in CRR.

According to the GCA, a total of 813 students in the three regions were introduced to the basic fundamentals of the game. At the end of the session, the GCA added, a demonstrative match was played between the students and the kids found the game interesting.

“The essence of these umpiring and scorers course is to educate these Physical Educators about umpiring and scoring, so that they could be officiating in our school league. The two-day course invited 10 Physical Educators from different schools in each of these regions. The Coaches also took the opportunity during their stay in these regions and visited the Governor and Alkalu of these Regions and had a lengthy discussion with them on ways to develop and sponsor the School league in there regions,” the GCA said in a press release sent to Observer Sports Desk.

by Fatou Trawally

Omar Sise, head coach of The Gambia U-20 has said technical preparations for the African Youth Championship qualifier at home to Morocco on Saturday are going on normal, noting that the goal for his side is to qualify.

Sise was speaking during a pre-match press conference on Wednesday at the Independence Stadium shortly after a 2-1 win over Banjul United in a test game.

The Moroccan side arrived in the country on Tuesday and is hosted at the Ocean Bay Hotel in Cape Point getting ready for the game.

“We are putting up strategies in all aspects to win handsomely in The Gambia and go to Morocco and win. We are hopeful of achieving the results,” he told the local press including Observer Sports.

With many having the belief that the Morocco game would be much tougher than Sierra Leone, Sise said the team would strengthen itself a little bit. “It does not make any frustration on us because as I always said it is 90 minutes.”

Sise would not dilate on his game plan, but is confident that his team can play against any side and promised that the spirit would continue.

He told the press that the mood at the camp was quite fantastic at the time of the press conference. He added that there was no injury threat also.

Pa Omar Babou, 2nd vice captain and spokesperson for the team said the players are ready for the task and would deliver the results at the end of the game. “I am looking forward to scoring a hat-trick against Morocco and God willing I am going to do it.”

by Alieu Ceesay

by Bai Ebrahim Cham

Gambian male fitness model, Aziz Ceesay, has stated that all he wants is to inspire people around the world about getting a good and healthy lifestyle.

A rare trend to most African males, Aziz Cessay fell in love with the profession after a photo shoot he did with a photographer called Krazie Kat who saw his picture on Facebook and invited him for a photo shoot in 2012. Cessay realised he got the look, charisma and potentials of a male fitness model.

Using casual and smart wear as his style, Ceesay represented The Gambia in Mr. Africa International 2014/15, where he came up third in the online voting and came out seventh overall from 20 countries and went head to head with the winner from Angola.

Ceesay spots out a few hardships in male modeling, like Africans being very judgmental and less supportive to the profession. Acknowledging menswear designers in Gambia, Ceesay admires Starfit Fashion as his favorite.

Still waiting to be signed by a modeling agency, Ceesay’s ambitions are beyond that as his aim is to one day operate his own modeling agency by building his own brand company.

It happened just eight years ago but today few people can remember what could be described as the most dramatic and interesting league in recent domestic Gambian football history.

Samger was promoted from the second division in 2007 and in the 2008 season led the table for much part of the season but lost the title to Wallidan in the final game of the season.

Wallidan, Hawks and Samger all went into the final game of the season on 36 points with the Blues and Red Devils carrying a two-goal advantage over the Academy outfit.

Wallidan scored two solid goals in the first half through Yunusa Jallow and George Cole before Ebrima Sonko’s second half goal ensured a 3-1 win over Hawks.

Samger took a 33rd minute lead against Steve Biko at the Serrekunda West Mini-Stadium through Lamin Sarjo Samateh but an 89th minute equalizer from Kawsu Jatta condemned them to second place.

Their enterprising football earned them a lot of admirers and during one of their dramatic games against Hawks at the Serrekunda East Mini-Stadium, they came from 2-0 down to win 3-2; it was watched by a record crowd

When their performance dropped the following season, they lost the many fans that had come to fall in love with them. Samger has never looked like that side under Jane Joof again.

Officials of Real de Banjul Football Club on Thursday held a press briefing as the team prepares to celebrate 50 years of existence.

Speaking at the event, Willy Abraham, Club President disclosed that the Golden Jubilee celebration would begin on July 12 with a nationwide tour across the country. The tour, he added would start from the North Bank Region and would take them to all the regions in the country.

He added that on July 29, there would be a football tournament with various clubs expected to take part. “We have budgeted D3.5million, which include a nationwide tour and invitation of clubs within and outside the country,” Willy Abraham said.

The invited clubs are: Stade Malien de Bamako, Mali; Inter Allies, Accra, Ghana; Asec Abidjan, Ivory Coast; Horoya, Guinea Conakry; Kallon Star, Freetown, Sierra Leone; Tevrah Zein, Mauritania; Guediawaye,  Cassaport, Academie Generation Food,  and Niarry Tally, all of Senegal.

The Real de Banjul boss thanked Allah for given them the opportunity to witnesses fifty years of existence with remarkable development strides towards promoting football in the country.

“I can remember when my father used to hold my hand and take me to the field to watch Real matches; I was a fan by then and now the President and God willing we do all we can in championing the football development in the country.”

He expressed gratitude to The Gambia Government, the Ministry of Youth and Sports and every stakeholder for the support.

Bakary Jammeh, the Vice President of the Club, said this fifty years celebration is a celebration of contributions to the development of sports in the country, football in particular. He said Real de Banjul has contributed immensely to the development of Gambian football in a short period.

“Whatever has a good foundation will have good structures and will last long. We are the leading club in The Gambia with vast experience in producing many professionals in the likes of Ebou Sillah, and others so this is worthy of celebration,” Jammeh said, while calling on all Gambians to join the celebrations.

Ebou Joof, a founding member of the Club, gave a brief account of Real de Banjul. He recalled that the Club was established when the Ministry of Education selected young footballers to attend a competition in Senegal. Upon their return, he added, they formed the Club in 1966 with the aim of developing football in the country.

by Alhagie Babou Jallow

Bafana Bafana coach Ephraim ‘Shakes’ Mashaba has named a 23-man squad that will play Gambia in the penultimate Orange CAF Africa Cup of Nations Gabon 2017 qualifiers.

This qualifier will also see the return of SuperSport United midfielder Dean Furman to the Bafana fold.

The two nations will lock horns on Saturday, 4 June 2016 at the Independence Stadium in Bakau, Gambia. Kickoff is at 17h00 local time (19h00 SA Time).

Mashaba will travel with 18 players to Gambia. The first match between South Africa and Gambia ended in a goalless draw in Durban (13 June 2015).

Bafana Bafana currently lie third on the table with three points after four matches. Cameroon leads the pack on 8 points, one more than second-placed Mauritania while Gambia has two points.

“The truth of the matter is we are in a difficult situation, but we have to keep our hopes alive. We have said before that the first two matches (against Gambia and Mauritania) took us off track. Had we done well in those matches, we would be talking a different story today. But we must soldier on and get the remaining six points, then wait and see,” said Mashaba.

Bafana Bafana will start camp on Sunday, 29 May. They depart for Gambia on Tuesday, 31 June 2016.

South Africa will host Mauritania in the last match of the qualifiers in September.

The winner of the group will progress to the 16-nation AFCON finals, along with two best-placed runners up.

Bafana Bafana squad:

Goalkeepers: Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs), Jackson Mabokgwane (Mpumalanga Black Aces), Brighton Mhlongo (Orlando Pirates).

Defenders: Ramahlwe Mphahlele (Mamelodi Sundowns), Diamond Thopola (Chippa United), Thabo Matlaba Matlaba (Orlando Pirates), Eric Mathoho (Kaizer Chiefs), Sifiso Hlanti (Bidvest Wits), Rivaldo Coetzee (Ajax Cape Town), Teboho Langerman (Mamelodi Sundowns).

Midfielders: Andile Jali (KV Oostende), Thulani Serero (Ajax Amsterdam), Thapelo Morena (Bloemfontein Celtic), Mpho Makola (Orlando Pirates), Mandla Masango (Randers FX), Hlompho Kekana (Mamelodi Sundowns), Keagan Dolly (Mamelodi Sundowns), Dean Furman (SuperSport United), May Mahlangu (Sint-Truidense).

Strikers: Thamsanqa Gabuza (Orlando Pirates), Sibusiso Vilakazi (Bidvest Wits), Ndumiso Mabena (Platinum Stars), Thobani Mncwango (Polokwane City).

Source: SuperSport

One of the country’s best female referees Jama Njie has been granted police bail by the Bundung Police Station after she was arrested for allegedly attacking some under-fire Red Scorpions players with a knife on Friday at the Serrekunda East Mini-Stadium.

Relations between Jama Njie and the Old Jeshwang based team has soured over the past few weeks as a result of the fallout from a national women football league match against Interior where Red Scorpions players attacked the referee, causing her actual bodily harm. Red Scorpions have since been relegated to the second division by The Gambia Football Federation with some players and officials also handed lengthy bans.

Observer Sports could not independently verify the actual circumstance that led to the alleged knife attack incident. However, some people have condemned the actions of the referee, while others said the referee might have been provoked by the angry players for the punishment levied on them by the GFF.

Red Scorpions, Observer Sports has gathered from an insider, is determined to push the alleged knife attack incident to a civil court, but on the other hand, The Gambia Football Referees Association is said to be opting for a diplomatic outcome to the matter.

by Alieu Ceesay

It was a dominant performance from start to finish and was described by many as the best performance of any Gambian football team at any level for a very long time.

Though the intensity dropped a little in the second period, it was a solid first half of sustained pressure from Omar Sise’s U-20 team, characterised by determination, desire, zeal and the gut to attack.

In the end, it took a 42nd minute headed effort from Real de Banjul’s Pa Omar Jobe to settle this first leg encounter but the scoreline didn’t reflect Gambia’s dominance in this game. Such was their dominance that the Young Scorpions could’ve scored a minimum of five goals in the first half alone but in the end, they were hard done by their own profligacy in front of goal or the sharp goalkeeping of the Moroccan stopper, who made three world class saves in the second half alone to keep the scoreline at 1-0.

The return leg of this encounter would be played three weeks from now on June 12 at the Fus de Rabat Stadium in Rabat with kickoff set for 10pm local time.

Speaking in a post match interview with Observer Sports Omar Sise, the Young Scorpions Coach said, “I am very happy and I thank God for the victory and I am going to prepare for my the return leg in Morocco.”

The Young Scorpions, who had defeated Sierra Leone 4-0 on aggregate in the preliminaries, are on an unbeaten run since Omar Sise took over the reins, stretching over seven months. They have also won three games on the bounce since the qualifiers began.

He said his boys worked very hard for their success, noting that they are very discipline and listen to instructions. “We worked hard to prepare the boys for this game and our aim was to score more goals but we are not playing against a small team,” Sise emphasised.

Many are hopeful that with Saturday’s performance, the boys can make it to the tournament proper in Zambia next year, but Sise said their immediate priority lies in the return leg where they hope to win and put back smiles on the faces of Gambian fans.

Mark Wotte, the Moroccan Coach, who admitted that the Gambians outplayed his side in the game, said the return leg would be very interesting for both sides, noting that they would make amends for their terrible showing in Banjul.

“I am hopeful that the experience in the first leg would help my side win the return leg in Rabat,” he said, adding that Real Madrid’s Achraff Hakimi, as well as a couple of players in AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund, who missed the first leg in Banjul, would be available for the decider in Rabat.

Saturday’s goal was Pa Omar Jobe’s second in three games in this qualifiers having also scored in the 2-0 home win over Sierra Leone last month.

Speaking in an Observer Sports post-match interview, the goal poacher said he was a proud man, promising to continue scoring for the country. He said the goal came as a result of team work and thanked the technical team for the guidance and support to the players.

by Alieu Ceesay

With a game to go, Alhagie Sarr and charges are the champions of the GFF 2015/2016 first division domestic league season after a 2-2 draw with Serrekunda United at the Father Gough Sports Complex on Sunday.

This as second place Brimaka United failed to win against Bombada in the all-Brikama derby played at the Box Bar Mini-stadium on the same day.

The ferry boys have been very good in this campaign and they will go with the same spirit when they face Brikama United in their final game of the league.

by Alieu Ceesay