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Playing in front of home supporters, Senegal once again proved that they are unmatched against the Scorpions of The Gambia as they showed a superior performance to defeat the visitors 3-1 at Stade Abdoulaye Wadé in Diamniadio. Just as expected, the host first took the lead in the first half stoppages after the Scorpions initially appeared defiant. It was the unlikeliest of scorers, centre-back Abdoulaye Seck, Senegal's captain for the night, who glanced home a free header after a corner from El-Hadji Malick Diouf. Within a moment of his introduction after the break, the PSG starlet Ibrahim Mbaye doubled Senegal's lead after a clever pass from Ismaila Sarr in the 47th minute. At that moment, it looked more like a desperate moment for the Scorpions, but veteran captain Omar Colley restored a bit of confidence as he nodded home a Yankuba Minteh's corner from a tight angle to make it 2-1. But when coach Pape Thiaw reverted to his bench, that certainly means an increase in Senegal's hunger for victory and substitute Lamine Camara sealed a deserved 3-1 win for the holders of the AFCON crown.This might be a game against a side [The Gambia] ranked 116 as opposed to Senegal who are ranked 12, but Senegal perhaps knew that given the proximity, the Scorpions would give their best in the clash to try to put their dominance to an end, maybe the more reason they opted to play against the Scorpions. It could also be looked at as a way of presenting their AFCON trophy to their neighbours, The Gambia, a way of strengthening the relationship between the two countries. Either way, the bigger focus was on the 90 minutes for the night. Stade Abdoulaye Wadé wasn't full, but Senegal has a greater number of supporters on the stands, and a decent number of Scorpions supporters took the six-hour journey to cheer their players too. Despite the rift between them and the Confederation of African Football, who now declared Morocco as winners of the AFCON on "disciplinary" grounds after Senegal protested against a penalty decision in the final and left the pitch before coming back to continue playing and ended up winning 1-0 against Morocco. Nicholas Jackson started his football in the Gambian First Division League before moving to Senegal Senegal who took the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sports to maintain their status as champions, paraded their AFCON trophy before the Senegalese and Gambian supporters inside the stadium. As a way of showing respect for that achievement, the visiting supporters cheered them as they walked around with what will be their second AFCON title provided that their appeal is successful. And when the 33-year-old Mauritanian referee Abdul Aziz Bouh blew for the kick-off, the host quickly got out of the block and tried to press with high intensity. In the process, both Assan Diao and Abdoulaye Seck had their efforts ricochet off the goal post and Gambia's goalkeeper Baboucarr Gaye was forced into some saves.On the other hand, the Scorpions, who were very disciplined, were focused on trying to establish themselves in the game. Aside from the obvious threat of Brighton's Yankuba Minteh, who was a cause for concern for Senegal's defence with his accelerating pace, nothing much was seen of the Scorpions' side. Their best chance in the first half fell to Abdoulie Manneh who hit straight at the goalkeeper after a brilliant loop pass from Abubakr Barry. But when the Scorpions supporters thought they had held the AFCON champions to a stalemate draw at halftime, their team's inability to defeat a set-piece was again exposed as Seck ran without any disturbance through Gambia's defence and beat Baboucarr Gaye with a header for the breakthrough goal. Straight after the restart, Senegal's coach Pape Thiaw, who started the game largely with second-choice players, introduced Dieng, Mbaye and Mendy to the game. Those substitutions paid off immediately as Ibrahim Mbaye left the Gambia's goalkeeper helpless with a one-touch finish after the mesmeric Ismaila Sarr squared off a pass to his path in the box. At that moment, hopes for a comeback started dashing. If it were a home game, some fans might start leaving for fear of more goals. But captain Omar Colley gave a moment to the Scorpions supporters to celebrate as he scored a header in the 51st minute to become the first Scorpions player to score a goal at the gigantic Abdoulaye Wadé stadium. Omar Colley is the most experienced player in this Gambian side. Even with the introduction of more players, coach Jonathan McKinstry and his players were not able to salvage a draw.Instead, it was the AS Monaco midfielder Lamin Camara who came on from the bench to seal a deserved 3-1 victory for the host as he rebounded home from close range after a save by Baboucarr Gaye in the stoppage time. This was the young lad's third goal in two games against the Gambia at this level. Aside from the overly ambitious supporters, not many were expecting a victory for the Scorpions against a nation they've been struggling to beat across all categories in football, including at the school level. The focus with this largely inexperienced squad could only be on preparing the team ahead of the next AFCON qualifiers.This score for a football writer, is not any embarrassing. The question should be, how is Senegal steadily becoming a powerhouse in African football, a development that is cutting across all cadres of their football. Does it have to do with good administration, heavy investment or their close ties with teams and academies in France? Perhaps we will be back here another time to look at things that The Gambia could learn from Senegal to be able to attain new heights in football. For the Lions of Teranga, this was another justification that they are no match for The Gambia on the pitch, having defeated them 3-0 on January 15 2024, in the Ivory Coast AFCON. The African champions are not taking any chances heading into the World Cup. They were on the back of a 2-0 victory over Peru, and now that they have added another morale booster ahead of the global showpiece.
The President Barrow-sponsored Ramadan Football Championship came to an end on Sunday, March 22, 2026, at the Serrekunda West Mini Stadium. The final match featured an exciting showdown between Star Boys F.C. and Babun Fatty.After the match ended in a goalless draw, Star Boys F.C. triumphed in the penalty shootout, earning a cash prize of D75,000. Babun Fatty, as the runner-up, received D50,000, while the Tigers of Kotu secured third place and were awarded D15,000. President Barrow attended the final, underscoring the significance of youth empowerment through sports. The tournament showcased 40 participating teams and highlighted the government's commitment to grassroots development and community engagement.The colourful final attracted a large audience of football enthusiasts and high-ranking government officials.
The Gambia National Olympic Committee (GNOC) has secured a $50,000 (approximately 3.6 million dalasi) grant from the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) to renovate the Olympic House.This significant funding injection is part of the NOC's strategic plan to upgrade the facility, boost capacity, and give it a fresh new look.The renovation project is set to commence soon, following the signing of a contract with MJ20 Construction and Civil Engineering Company Ltd. The revamped Olympic House is expected to enhance Gambia's sports profile, showcasing the country's commitment to sports development.
The Gambia's beach volleyball duo, Abdallah Bah and Omar Bojang, fell short of the gold medal at the U18 African Youth Games in Angola, losing 2-0 (22-20, 21-14) to Sierra Leone in the final. Despite being unbeaten prior to the final, the Gambian team faced a tough challenge from their Sierra Leonean opponents, who proved too strong in the end.
The Gambian beach volleyball duo of Abdalllah Bah and Ndoti Dampha have made history by reaching the final of the 2025 African Youth Games Beach Volleyball Championship in Angola. The pair defeated Kenya 2-1 to book their spot in the championship match, where they will face Sierra Leone.Under the expert guidance of coach Amadou Jarju, the team has been in scintillating form throughout the U18 competition, outplaying their opponents with ease. This latest victory has set the stage for a thrilling final, with Bah and Dampha looking to add another gold medal to Gambia’s impressive collection.The Gambian team's recent dominance in beach volleyball has been nothing short of remarkable. In 2025 alone, they have won several international medals, including silver at the African School Games in Algeria and gold medals in Nigeria and Banjul. They have also had a stellar performance in the U18 Doha World Championship Beach Volleyball competition, where they defeated the USA 2-1 in their opening pool match.With their sights set on the final, coach Amadou Jarju and his team will be confident of bringing home the gold medal and continuing their winning streak. Abdalllah Bah (2), who now represents the Gambia in five international competitions in including Algeria, Nigeria, Banjul and Doha, is pairing with Ndoti Dampha (1) for the first time. This is Ndoti's first international beach volleyball competition.
In what was a nail-biting encounter, Berewuleng F.C. staged a stunning comeback to defeat the highly experienced Red Scorpions 2-1 in the Gambia Football Federation's Women's Super Cup. Red Scorpions had set their sights on spoiling Berewuleng's party, taking an early lead through Vilma Nhaga Badjeta's clinical finish. The Scorpions were buoyant, hoping to cap off Berewuleng's recent dominance in Gambian women's football.Berewuleng's starting XI against Red Scorpions. However, the reigning league and FF Cup champions, Berewuleng F.C., were not about to let their title reign end without a fight. Midway through the game, Mafanta Drammeh equalised for the Brikama-based team, sparking a frenzy of excitement among their fans. The momentum had shifted, and Berewuleng were back in the game.Red Scorpion’s starting XI against Berewuleng In the 84th minute, Kaddijatou Drammeh sealed the win for Berewuleng with a dramatic winner, sending the Brikama-based team into jubilation. Berewuleng F.C., who were crowned champions of the Gambia Football Federation's Women's League and FF Cups, now added a Super Cup to make it a hat-trick of trophies. The victorious Berewuleng F.C. team were handed a giant trophy, gold medals, and a cheque for 75,000 Dalasis, while the runners-up Red Scorpions received 50,000 Dalasis and silver medals.
The Gambia's duo Abdalllah Bah and Ndoti Dampha registered another win to reach the quarter finals of the 2025 African Youth Games beach volleyball competition in Angola. They defeated Tunisia 2 -0 (21-19, 23-21) in the Round of Sixteen. The Gambia will now take on Sao Tome and Principe on Saturday 13 December.
Abdalllah Bah and Ndoti Dampha, The Gambia's promising U18 beach volleyball duo, have made waves at the 2025 African Youth Games in Angola with their impressive wins. They secured their spot in the round of 16 by defeating Kenya 2-0, with scores of 21-19 and 21-19. This victory marks a continuation of their strong performance, following their 2-0 win against Mauritius in their previous match.The Gambian team's success in the tournament showcases the country's growing talent in beach volleyball. With young athletes like Bah and Dampha leading the charge, The Gambia is poised to make a lasting impact in African beach volleyball.
Minister of Youth and Sport, Bakary Y. Badjie, has handed over the Gambia National Flag to Team Gambia, marking a significant milestone as the country prepares to participate in the ANOCA African Youth Games in Angola. The ceremony, held at the Olympic House, was attended by officials from the Gambia National Olympic Committee (GNOC) and other stakeholders.Minister Badjie reiterated his Ministry's commitment to supporting the development of sports in The Gambia, urging the athletes to be good ambassadors of the country and bring home medals. He expressed pride in the phenomenal successes achieved in Gambian sports, attributing it to the willingness of athletes and the commitment of the NOC.GNOC President, Bai Dodou Jallow, highlighted the readiness of the athletes, citing the efforts and support made by the committee to prepare them for the event. The team will depart for Angola in two phases, with the first delegation travelling on Sunday and the rest on Monday.The ANOCA African Youth Games will take place from December 10 to December 20, providing a platform for young Gambian athletes to showcase their talents and compete against their peers from across the continent.
The Gambia's boys and girls who narrowly missed out in the chase for a gold medal, have settled for bronze medals in both categories of the WAFU A U-15 African School Football Championship.The boys defeated Mauritania 4-2 on penalties following a goalless draw, while the girls finished third in the standings to settle for bronze.Both teams were handed bronze medals and will each receive 50,000 US dollars worth of support for school sports and talent development from the Confederation of African Football.
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