Steve Biko drawn against ES Sétif in Champions League qualifiers

Gambian champions Steve Biko

Gambia First Division champions Steve Biko have been drawn against Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1 club Entente Sportive de Sétif in the preliminary round of the 2014 CAF Champions League qualifiers.

In what looks like a baptism of fire, the Gambian champions, Steve Biko, have been handed a trip to Algeria in their first Champions League appearance. Coach Abdoulie Bojang’s men have been drawn against ES Sétif in the preliminary round of Africa’s most prestigious and lucrative club competition.

Tijan Jaiteh joins Sandnes Ulf

Tijan Jaiteh quits Sandefjord to join Sandnes Ulf

Norwegian Tippeligaen [top tier] club Sandnes Ulf has signed Gambia international midfielder Tijan Jaiteh on a two-year contract from Adeccoligaen [second tier] side Sandefjord, this blog can reveal.

The Scorpions midfielder, who wasn’t short of offers from clubs in Norway and abroad, left Sandefjord after two years at the Vestfold-based club to pen a deal that will see him stay at Sandnes Ulf until 2016, snubbing interest from long-time admirers IK Start.

Dinamo Zagreb terminate Alieu Darbo contract

Dinamo Zagreb part ways with Alieu Darbo

Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb have terminated the contract of Swedish-born Gambian forward Alieu Darbo, this blog can reveal.

Darbo became the second Gambian after defender Lamin ‘Basmen’ Samateh to be signed by a Croatian top flight club but his stay was short-lived after the 15-time Croatian champions terminated his contract without making a single appearance.

Kekuta Manneh court interest from Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal

EPL powers ‘could swoop’ for Kekuta Manneh

Gambia and Vancouver Whitecaps superkid Kekuta Manneh is on the radar of Premier League clubs, this blog can reveal.

The Daily Star claims that Manneh delivered another nudge to Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal after becoming the youngest player to score a Major League Soccer hat-trick.

Gambia slips in latest FIFA rankings

Scorpions drop three places in latest ranking

The Gambia has dropped three places in the latest Coca-Cola World Rankings issued by football governing body, FIFA.

The Scorpions are now listed as no 139th among FIFA’s 209 nations. The Gambia also lost ground in the Africa rankings dropping from 39th in September to 40th in the current standings.

Gambia’s participation at Glasgow 2014 in doubt after Commonwealth withdrawal

Gambia’s participation at Glasgow 2014 in doubt

The Gambia’s withdrawal from the Commonwealth has raised doubts about the country’s participation at next year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

Article 10.3 of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) Constitution states: “Countries must be full members of the Commonwealth, as accepted by the Commonwealth Secretariat.”

Gambian player on trial with Chicago Fire

Bubacarr Jobe trials with Chicago Fire

Gambian midfielder Bubacarr Jobe is currently undergoing a three-day trial with Major League Soccer club Chicago Fire, this blog can reveal.

The former Steve Biko player is making progress with his soccer development. He will undergo three days of intensive training at the Fire’s training complex and home stadium field – Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Illinois.

Ibou Sawaneh off to Qatar

Ibou Sawaneh joins Al Muaither Sports Club

Gambia international striker Ibou Sawaneh has joined Qatar Stars League side Al Muaither Sports Club on a season-long loan deal from OH Leuven.

The 27-year-old joined Leuven from RAEC Mons in 2012, scoring 19 times in 36 league appearances in the 2012/2013 Belgian Jupiler Pro League campaign.

He was one of the five nominees for the Ebony Golden Shoe, an award given to the best player in the Belgian Jupiler Pro League with African roots.

Real de Banjul hires foreign coach

Franky Van De Velde appointed Real de Banjul coach

Real de Banjul have confirmed the appointment of Belgian Franky Van De Velde as head coach of the senior and youth teams on a two-year contract.

After narrowly failing to defend their title in one of the keenest league championships this year, Real de Banjul are turning to Europe for coaching expertise they hope will help them win back the title from Steve Biko.

Gambia best movers in latest FIFA ranking

Gambia national team

The Gambia has gained a massive 27 places to rise from 163 to 136 in the latest Coca/Cola world rankings released by World Football governing body, FIFA, on Thursday.

Gambia, who are the best movers in this month’s ranking, is now 39th in Africa having improved from position 43 in the August ranking.

Manchester United sign Gambian teenager Saidy Janko

Gambian teenager Saidy Janko

English Premier League club Manchester United have completed the signing of Gambian teenager Saidy Janko from Swiss Super League club FC Zürich, this blog can reveal.

The Red Devils have confirmed the deal was concluded before the transfer window closed on Monday night for a fee believed to be around £700,000 for the player who was born in Switzerland to a Gambian father and a Swiss/Italian mother.

Reading, St Étienne and two other clubs interested in Sawaneh

Ibou Sawaneh heading to the exit door?

Gambia international striker Ibou Sawaneh is currently the country’s most talked about player in the transfer market as four clubs have shown interest in the services of the OH Leuven forward.

Relegated English Premier League club Reading, French Ligue 1 side AS Saint-Étienne, Dutch Eredivisie club FC Utrecht and Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1 side Club Africain are all interested in the 5ft 10in striker.

English Premier League club Everton signs Gambian defender

Ibou Touray

English Premier League club Everton have signed Gambian defender Ibou Touray on a one-year contract, this blog can reveal.

Touray became the latest Everton academy graduate to sign a professional contract with the Liverpool-based club.

The full-back, 18, has put pen-to-paper on a one-year deal – the fifth youngster this summer to agree senior terms.

Aziz Corr Nyang agrees deal to join Valletta

Aziz Corr Nyang moves to Malta

After seven months without a club, Gambia international Aziz Corr Nyang has finally found a new home after spending more than a decade in Sweden.

Aziz Corr will be adding up to Valletta’s foreigners’ line-up for the new season after agreeing terms with the Maltese Premier League club.

Seejou King pens permanent deal with Sporting Lisbon

Seejou King signs permanent contract with Sporting Lisbon

Portuguese Primeira Liga [top tier] club Sporting Lisbon have completed the signing of Danish-born Gambian defender Seejou ‘Krea’ King on a permanent basis after he impressed on loan at the Estádio José Alvalade, this blog can reveal.

Seejou King had been on a season-long loan last season withthe 18-time Portuguese champions and has been a big hit, scoring three times in 13 appearances for the Lisbon club’s reserve team.

Kabba-Modou Cham joins Greenock Morton

Gambian striker Kabba-Modou Cham

Former Gambia U-20 striker Kabba-Modou Cham has signed a two-year contract with Scottish Championship [second-tier] side Greenock Morton FC, this blog can exclusively reveal.

Cham put pen to paper on a two-year contract with The Pride of the Clyde after leaving Belgian Jupiler Pro League side KV Mechelen in search of first team football.

Mustapha Kebbeh elected President of Gambia Football Federation

GFF President Mustapha Kebbeh

After 17 months of a painstaking normalization process, a new President has been elected to run Gambian football as Mustapha Kebbeh emerged as winner of the Gambia Football Federation presidential elections.

Development worker Kebbeh, scored a decisive victory over his sole rival, banker Momodou Musa. Kebbeh polled 30 of the 51 votes. His election ends a 17 month caretaker period for the seven-member normalization committee, with whom supporters of the victor have not always been impressed.

Hamza Barry joins Valletta

Hamza Barry

Gambia international midfielder Hamza Barry has signed a one-year contract with Maltese Premier League side Valletta FC, this blog can reveal.

The 19-year-old midfielder left local club Gambia Ports Authority to join the southern European club in the 2013 summer transfer window after representing Gambia in its 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Ivory Coast and Morocco respectively.

Scorpions get help from Taiwan

Taiwan gives to Gambia Scorpions

The government of the Republic of China on Taiwan through its Embassy in Banjul has given the sum of US$442,000 [four hundred and forty-two thousand dollars] for the development of the Gambia national football team, the Scorpions.

The minister for Presidential Affairs who also doubles as the secretary general & head of the Civil Service, Hon. Momodou Sabally, received a cheque for the aforementioned amount on behalf of government of The Gambia, from His Excellency Samuel Chen, the ambassador of Taiwan, Friday at his office at State House in Banjul.

Sanna apologises for outburst against Morocco

Sanna apologises for outburst

Gambia international Sanna Nyassi has apologised for his outburst in the Scorpions’ 2-0 loss to the Atlas Lions of Morocco on Saturday in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Sanna headed straight into the dressing room in protest of coach Peter Bonu Johnson’s decision to sub him off in the 59th minute for Mustapha ‘Toubabo’ Jarju.

Sainey Touray scores seventh goal of the season

Sainey Touray nets goal number seven

Gambian striker Sainey Touray guided the Harrisburg City Islanders to take sole position of second place in USL PRO with a 3-1 win over Antigua Barracuda on Sunday.

The Islanders were able to bounce back from a loss last week to the Colorado Rapids Reserve with a strong showing against the Barracuda with Sainey Touray netting his seventh goal of the season, which moved him to third in the league in scoring.

Scorpions jet in Morocco ahead of World Cup qualifier match

Scorpions of Gambia

The Scorpions of The Gambia have arrived in the city of Marrakech ahead of their 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier match against the Atlas Lions of Morocco on Saturday.

The team left Banjul in the early hours of Wednesday morning on board Royal Air Maroc for a three-and-half-hour journey to Marrakech via Casablanca.

Yusupha Njie joins Moroccan club FUS de Rabat

Yusupha Njie alias Oskeh

Real de Banjul midfielder Yusupha Njie has joined Moroccan Botola Pro side FUS de Rabat on a four-year contract, this blog can reveal.

The 19-year-old midfielder signed for Jamal Sellami’s Botola Pro side having impressed the Rabat-based club during a brief trial spell.

Gambia gets Zambian referee for Ivory Coast tie

Zambian referee Janny Sikazwe

Zambian referee Janny Sikazwe has been appointed by FIFA to handle Gambia’s 2014 World Cup qualifier against Ivory Coast this weekend.

The Kapiri Mposhi-based secondary school teacher will on June 8 be the centre man in a match involving Gambia’s home fixture against Ivory Coast at the Independence Stadium in Bakau.

Bonu Johnson takes over Scorpions top job, Mancini relegated

Peter Bonu Johnson

Just four days before facing Ivory Coast in a crucial 2014 World Cup qualifier, the Gambia has announced a change in the Scorpions’ coaching setup with Peter Bonu Johnson taking over from the man he lost the position to – Italian Luciano Mancini.

The Ministry of Youth and Sports says they in consultation with the football authorities have decided to put Bonu Johnson back in charge of the Gambian national team, the Scorpions.

Gambia misses out on Carayol

Mustapha 'Muzzy' Carayol

This blog can confirm that Mustapha Carayol will not be representing Gambia in two World Cup qualifiers against Ivory Coast and Morocco this month despite being named in the Scorpions’ squad.

Carayol, who was born in the Gambian capital, Banjul, is eligible to represent both Gambia and England and has so far refused to commit himself to either nation.

Pa Modou Jagne set to join FC Sion

Gambia's Pa Modou Jagne

Gambia international Pa Modou Jagne is set to quit Swiss Super League club FC St Gallen to join another Super League side FC Sion at the end of the season, this blog can reveal.

The defender-cum-midfielder rejected a contract offer made by Gallen in favour of a move to two-time Swiss Super League champions, Sion.

Sanna’s Impact claim Amway Canadian Championship

Sanna celebrates with his teammates

The Montreal Impact of Sanna Nyassi came back twice on Wednesday night at BC Place, winning the Voyageurs Cup through a 2-2 draw with Kekuta Manneh’s Vancouver Whitecaps, which ensured an aggregate Amway Canadian championship victory on away goals.

Sanna was an unused sub for the victorious Impact as was Kekuta for the disappointed Whitecaps.

Gambian youngster training with Coventry, eyes Stoke U21 trial

Pa Sulay Njie eyes Stoke trial

Gambian youngster, Pa Sulay Njie, is currently training with English League One side Coventry City with a view of earning a trial with Premier League club Stoke City, this blog can reveal.

Pa Sulay Njie, 20, is widely regarded as one of the finest youngsters in his position which resulted into him being offered a trial with the U21 team of Premier League side Stoke City.

Ali Sowe makes Italian Serie A debut for Chievo

Gambian striker Ali Sowe

Gambia international striker Ali Sowe marked his Italian Serie A debut on Sunday in AC Chievo Verona’s last home match of the season which ended in a draw.

The teenage Gambian striker came in as an 82nd minute substitute for Cyril Théréau in Chievo’s 1-1 draw against Torino at the Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi.

Gambia U19 team crowned champions in Umbria tournament

Gambia wins Umbria tournament

The Gambia U19 team under the leadership of coach Peter Bonu Johnson, have won the 2013 Umbria regional tournament in the second year of the team’s participation.

The U19 team edged China 1-0 thanks to Hawks’ Momodou Badjie, who scored his fourth goal in the regional team tournament.

Sanna is top Gambian earner in MLS

Sanna Nyassi is highest paid Gambian in MLS

Gambia international Sanna Nyassi is the highest paid Gambian football in the Major League Soccer, according to a players’ union release.

Gambian footballers earn some of the lowest salaries in the United States according to the MLS players’ union and as it does every year, the Major League Soccer Players’ Union has released 2013 salary information for every single player in the top flight with Sanna Nyassi being the highest paid Gambian footballer.

Gambia slips in FIFA ranking

Scorpions of The Gambia

The Scorpions of Gambia on Thursday continued their freefall on the Federation of International Football Associations [FIFA] Coca Cola World rankings.

According to the rankings table the international world football governing body released from its Zurich, Switzerland headquarters, the underachieving Scorpions are now 147th after falling a place down over the past month.

Gambia held by Slovenia in Umbria tournament

Gambia Under 19

The Gambia U19 team on Wednesday afternoon played its second match against Slovenia in the annual Umbria football tournament currently taking place in Italy.

A total of twenty players and five officials departed Banjul on 5th May to Italy where they joined counterparts from seven other countries for the one week regional tournament.

Gambia coach Luciano Mancini ranked 360 in the world

Gambia coach Luciano Mancini

Gambia coach, Luciano Mancini has moved five steps down on world coaches ranking for the national teams released by the Institute of Football Coaching Statistics for the month of April.

Luciano Mancini is rated the 360th best national coach in the world with a point haul of 198 surpassing Brazil and Mauritania coaches Luiz Felipe Scolari & Patrice Neveu respectively. The regional-turned Scorpions coach, who was manager of the Umbria regional team in Italy, has a 0% Win ratio, 25% Draw and 75% Losses ratio since taking over from Peter Bonu Johnson in May 2012.

Kekuta Manneh sparks rally as Whitecaps claim draw with Dallas

Kekuta Manneh scores first professional goal

Gambian striker Kekuta Manneh inspired the Vancouver Whitecaps to a memorable comeback in the Major League Soccer as he guided the Whitecaps to overcome two ugly goals to earn a point in a 2-2 draw against FC Dallas.

The Gambian youngster came up big with a goal and a wonderful assist to unhinge the Hoops. The 18-year-old striker got the comeback going with a cracking 72nd minute strike which followed a fine save from Raúl Fernández Valverde just seconds before. It was his first goal as a professional.

Gambia set to benefit from Barcelona

Barcelona President Sandro Rosell, Jacques Rogge and Vice-president of the Foundation, Ramon Pont

The Gambia is set to benefit from FC Barcelona Foundation’s FutbolNet project following a pact between the Spanish club and the International Olympic Committee [IOC] to help develop African football, this blog can reveal.

The project which is targeted for children between the ages of 12 and 15 will see Gambia taking part in the Olympafrica FutbolNet Cup group of tournaments that shaped around the Barca Foundation’s FutbolNet which aims to instill and encourage positive values through football.

Gambian teenager offered pro deal at Southend United

Seedy Njie

Gambian striker Seedy Ishmail Njie has signed a professional contract with English League Two side Southend United FC, this blog can exclusively reveal.

Seedy Ishmail Njie, 18, has been rewarded for his impressive performance this season, along with five other players, who have been handed development deals to remain at Roots Hall.

Gambia Football Association draft constitution endorsed

Gambia Football Association

Gambia Football Association draft Constitution has been endorsed by football stakeholders in an adoptive congress held on Saturday, 13th April 2013.

Scheduled at the Independence stadium Friendship Hostel, the re-adoption of the blue-print was triggered by FIFA’s rejection of the Gambia stakeholders endorsed document upon discovering, following scrutiny, that some of the clubs that voted in the December 8th assembly ‘do not at all exists’.

Gambia falls in latest FIFA rankings

Gambia falls in ranking

The Gambia has registered another disappointment in the latest Coca Cola world rankings released by World football governing body, FIFA, on Thursday.

The Scorpions have fallen two places down from last month’s rankings which placed them at number 144 to number 146 in the latest rankings.

Djurgården signs Amadou Jawo on loan

Amadou Jawo joins Djurgården IF

Gambian striker Amadou Jawo has joined Swedish Allsvenskan [top-tier] club Djurgården IF on loan until the end of the season from IF Elfsborg, this blog can report.

The 28-year-old striker was one of Elfsborg’s most expensive players in the club’s history after joining from Gävle-based side Gefle IF in 2009 but he has since failed to grab himself a regular place at the Borås-based outfit scooping 14 appearances last season and scoring twice.

Gambian forward inks deal with Umeå FC

Ex-Hawks striker Lamin Sillah

Former Wallidan and Hawks forward, Lamin Sillah, has signed a two-year contract with Swedish Division 1 [third-tier] side, Umeå FC, after impressing the club on trial, this blog can reveal.

The 23-year-old former Hawks attacker was impressive in his first pre-season match with the Swedish Division 1 club and scored in their 2-1 win over Selånger FK at the club’s 10,000 capacity T3 Arena.

Harrisburg City Islanders re-signs Sainey Touray

Sainey Touray

United Soccer Leagues Professional Division club Harrisburg City Islanders have re-signed Gambian striker Sainey Touray ahead of the 2013 USL Pro season.

Sainey Touray returns to the City Islanders after a successful 2012 USL Pro campaign, appearing in 19 games in what was his second season with the Pennsylvania-based club. He registered 2 goals and 4 assists and is looking to continue to be a force in the Islanders’ frontline.

Gamtel exit Confederation Cup after loss to CS Sfaxien

Gamtel waves goodbye to Confederation Cup

Gambia’s only representative in a CAF Club Competition, Gamtel, have crashed out of the CAF Confederation Cup round of 32 tie after losing at home to Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1 side Club Sportif Sfaxien.

Rampant CS Sfaxien strolled to the second round of the qualifiers after a convincing 3-1 win against Gamtel, winning 7-3 on aggregate against the ‘Telecommunication boys’ at the Brikama Box-bar mini stadium on Saturday.

REVEALED: Tijan Jaiteh rejects Gambia call-up after demanding ticket refund

Tijan Jaiteh dumps Gambia for personal issues

Gambia international midfielder Tijan Jaiteh refused to join the Scorpions team against Ivory Coast after he insisted his air ticket be refunded by authorities, this blog can reveal.

Dispute over refund for an air ticket is the major reason for Tijan Jaiteh’s refusal to join the Scorpion squad for the Ivory Coast duel, it has emerged.

USL Pro club VSI Tampa Bay FC signs Gambian Karamba Janneh

Karamba Janneh

United Soccer Leagues side VSI Tampa Bay FC has announced the signing of Gambian striker Karamba Janneh for the club’s 2013 inaugural season in USL PRO, this blog can exclusively reveal.

Fresh off the back of an outstanding season with Ocala Stampede of the Premier Development League, PDL, 23-year-old Janneh was one of the standout players for the PDL Southeast Division Champions.

Sanna Nyassi returns to club after outing with Gambia

Sanna Nyassi heads back to Montreal

Gambia international Sanna Nyassi has returned to his Major League Soccer club, Montreal Impact, after he did not exactly see the finish that he was hoping for the Scorpions.

Sanna earned his 5th cap for the Scorpions in the team’s 3-0 loss to Ivory Coast, Saturday in Abidjan, playing all 90 minutes in the loss.

Mancini remains positive despite losing to Ivory Coast

Gambia head coach Luciano Mancini

Following Gambia’s loss to the Elephants of Ivory Coast at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan on Saturday, Scorpions coach Luciano Mancini has chosen to remain positive despite the outcome of the result.

“I think that my team put on a good performance. We held Ivory Coast in the first half but in the second [half], the penalty pulled the rug out from under us,” regional-turned Scorpions coach Luciano Mancini stated admitting to the superiority of the Elephants.

‘Fatigue and inexperience costs us,’ Scorpions captain

Captain Abdou Jammeh

Scorpions captain Abdou Jammeh has attributed his team’s defeat to Ivory Coast over the weekend to jetlag and inexperience which he claims cost them the match at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan.

Jammeh said that he and his teammates were tired by the fact that, “travelling from Europe to Niger was very far and there was still fatigue in us which took us time to settle down”.

Scorpions stingless against Elephants

Scorpions of The Gambia

Ivory Coast defeated visiting Gambia 3-0 on Saturday in Abidjan in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying to consolidate their lead in Group C with seven points.

The Scorpions of the Gambia, who are still looking for their first victory of the qualifying campaign, kept their hosts goalless throughout the first 45 minutes at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan.