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In a match that showcased their undeniable spirit and tenacity, The Gambia's Scorpions faced off against the formidable AFCON champions, Ivory Coast.Despite their spirited performance, they fell short, succumbing to a solitary goal from Sébastien Haller, which ultimately secured a narrow 1-0 victory for the hosts - Ivory Coast in round six of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. Playing in front of the home crowd at the 33,000 seater Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, the host who are clearly the favourites in the group, took command in the early stages and made their dominance counted after just 15 minutes when they capitalised on a lacklustre defending by the Gambia as Haller nodded home the breakthrough. From the break, the Scorpions nearly turned the game on its head, as they took the game to the Ivorians and forced the home side's goalkeeper, Yahia Fofana, into making some remarkable saves.Yankuba Minteh, the Gambian international who plays for Brighton and Hove Albion in the English Premier League. He is one of the Gambia's most formidable attackers at the moment. (Picture - GFF)The Scorpions were close enough to snatch a point or even grab all three points as Alieu Fadera, Mahmudu Bajo, and Alasana Jatta were all culprits as they squandered gilt-edge chances. This loss dealt a significant blow to The Gambia's chances of a first world cup appearance, leaving their hopes of qualification hanging by a thread. Group winners in each of the nine groups will qualify for the World Cup automatically, while the four best second-place teams will battle for a slot in the play-off to determine who advance to the inter confederation play-offs. The Scorpions, who are on four points after six matches, still have four more games to play - against Kenya and Burundi in the September windows and Gabon and Seychelles in the October international break. To stand even the slightest of chances, the Scorpions must win all the remaining four games. Should the Scorpions qualify, that will be the equivalent of winning the World Cup. The talismanic Musa Barrow, who plays for Al-Taawoun in the Saudi Pro League, he was on the back of a brace heading into this game, as he scored twice against Kenya in round five. (Picture - GFF)But the focus is not largely on qualifying as the Northern Irish - Jonathan McKinstry continues his team-building process ahead of the next AFCON and World Cup Qualifiers. Nobody will hold anyone at gunpoint for this defeat, but the team must improve on a few things, especially scoring goals when it matters the most and improving on their defending.While the result may appear disheartening at first glance, the Scorpions' display in the second half was infused with determination and promise. Their improved performance serves as a glimmer of hope, indicating that brighter days could lie ahead, especially with a burgeoning wave of Gambian talent, making strides in professional football.
The Scorpions of The Gambia completed their final training session in Abidjan in preparation for their upcoming match against Kenya in the fifth round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. This important fixture is scheduled to take place in Ivory Coast on Thursday, 20th March 2025, at 7:00 PM.Currently positioned second from the bottom in Group F, the Scorpions have achieved one victory in their four matches, alongside three losses. Head Coach Johnathan McKinstry and his team are focused on reversing their fortunes to enhance their prospects for qualification.
In a remarkable display of talent during February, Yankuba Minteh, the Gambian international, has captivated fans and critics alike with his dynamic performances for Brighton. Scoring two stunning goals and contributing a crucial assist, Minteh’s creativity on the pitch has propelled his team to new heights, earning him a well-deserved nomination for the Premier League Player of the Month.The youngster scored twice against Chelsea in Brighton's 3-0 win before providing an assist for Rutter in Brighton's 4-0 win over Southampton. He wrapped up his February with an impressive performance in Brighton's 2-1 victory over AFC Bournemouth.Minteh will be contesting this award with Mohamed Salah of Liverpool, Beto of Everton, Jean-Philippe Mateta of Crystal Palace, Djed Spence of Tottenham Hotspur and Dominik Szoboszlai of Liverpool.This recognition is monumental for the young star, signalling his potential to become a significant force in the Premier League landscape. Minteh’s blend of skill, speed, and determination is a thrilling prospect for the future. This is remarkable for the 20-year-old youngster in what already looks like the beginning of an illustrious career for the Seagulls threatening attacker.
The Gambia's Women's National Team, popularly known as the Queen Scorpions, has successfully secured their place in the next stage of the 2026 Morocco Women's Africa Cup of Nations Qualifier. In a thrilling return leg match against Niger, held in Dakar, Senegal, the team clinched a hard-fought 2-1 victory. This triumph contributed to an impressive aggregate score of 4-1 over the two-legged tie, showcasing their dominance throughout the series.The standout performances of players Mbassy Darboe and Fatou Kanteh were pivotal to the team's success. Darboe's skilful play and strategic positioning led to her scoring a crucial goal that shifted the momentum in favour of The Gambia.Meanwhile, Kanteh showcased her striking prowess, netting an impressive goal that not only sealed the win but also highlighted her offensive capabilities throughout the match.Under the astute guidance of Coach Mariam Sowe, the team displayed remarkable resilience, tactical discipline, and a strong sense of camaraderie. Their unwavering determination and teamwork transformed their ambitions into reality, setting the stage for the next phase of their qualification campaign. The Queen Scorpions are now poised to continue their journey in pursuit of a coveted spot in the continental tournament, fueled by their recent successes and the growing support of their fans.
Musa Barrow, the dynamic forward for Al-Taawoun F.C., is steadily making his mark as one of the standout talents in the Saudi Pro League. With an impressive tally of 11 goals and seven assists across all competitions, Barrow's contributions have been pivotal for his team.In a recent match against Al-Ahli, Barrow showcased his exceptional skill with a stunning goal from almost 30 yards out, despite his team's eventual 4-2 defeat. This breathtaking strike underlined his ability to change the course of a game with just one moment of brilliance.Currently, Barrow and Al-Taawoun F.C. find themselves positioned 9th in the Saudi Pro League standings, accumulating 18 points from 13 matches. As he continues to grow in confidence and form, fans eagerly anticipate what this talented player will bring to the pitch next.
Yankuba Minteh is expected to play a pivotal part in the Gambia's attempt for a 3rd consecutive AFCON qualification. Minteh, who has been nursing an injury, is included in coach Jonathan Mckinstry's squad to face Comoros and Tunisia in the decisive final two games of the AFCON qualifiersThe wing wizard has sat out Brighton's last five games, including the famous 2-1 win over champions Manchester City at the Amex stadium. His absence from Fabian Hurzeler's squad has raised worrying concerns in the Gambia ahead of the decisive qualifiers, but GRTS Sports has been reliably informed that Minteh has been training for the last two weeks and trained 100% last week.Brighton and Hove Albion have released the player to join the Scorpions despite the Seagulls preferring him to stay.The 20-year-old who has become an integral member since breaking into the national team is determined to help the Scorpions secure their place in Morroco 2025 and has opted to join the national team in Morocco.Yankuba is key and a potential difference maker for the Scorpions as Brighton's summer signing has netted 4 goals in 10 appearances for The Gambia, making the presence of a fit Yankuba Minteh very vital in the crucial and decisive upcoming qualifying games on the 15th and 18th November 2024.
As the final round of qualifiers for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) approaches, the players face a pivotal moment that could determine the fate of Gambia's national team.Coach Johnathan McKinstry has announced a carefully selected squad that is poised for action, starting with a crucial match against Comoros on November 15, 2024, set to take place in Morocco.Following this encounter, the team will head to Tunisia for their decisive qualifier on 18 November 2024.The stakes are high for the Scorpions of The Gambia; a victory over Comoros, paired with a draw against Tunisia, could secure their place in the prestigious AFCON tournament for the third consecutive time. With the weight of national pride on their shoulders, the players are eager to demonstrate their skill and determination on the field.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has determined that the Gambia is currently unable to host the 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers following a recent assessment of the renovation works funded by the Gambia government. The inspection identified that the stadium requires further enhancements to the playing surface before it can be approved for any CAF or FIFA matches.While acknowledging the successful renovations overall, CAF noted that the condition of the pitch necessitates improvements to qualify for Category 3 matches. CAF expressed appreciation for the significant advancements made at the facility, commending the Government of The Gambia, the Gambia Football Federation (GFF), and the stadium management. Key areas of improvement included the dressing rooms, spectator stands, media zones, hospitality services, and essential structural elements. These enhancements represent a constructive step towards compliance with CAF and FIFA standards.Moreover, CAF has offered to assist the Gambia by providing a pitch specialist consultant to facilitate the necessary preparations, ensuring that the playing surface meets all requirements for future senior international matches.The Ministry extends its apologies to the public, who have been eagerly anticipating the return of the Scorpions to their home grounds. In light of this feedback, the Ministry will accept CAF’s proposal to engage a pitch specialist consultant to aid in the essential improvements.
The Gambia National Team coach Johnathan McKinstry has unveiled a 24-man squad ahead of the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.In what will be their quest for a third AFCON appearance, The Gambia will first take on Comoros on September 4th, before playing against Tunisia on September 8th. All the two matches will take place in Morocco as both the national stadiums of both The Gambia and Comoros are banned by CAF for failing to meet the required standards.
Gina Mariam Bass Bittaye, The Gambia's most decorated athlete, narrowly missed qualifying for the Women's 200m finals, marking the end of her 2024 Paris Olympics journey. Even though she ran her season best of 22.66 seconds, that was not enough as she finished 4th in the Women's 200m semifinals.Gina had previously won gold in the Women's 100m and 200m at the 2024 African Games, as well as gold in the Women's 100m at the 2024 African Senior Athletics Championship.Although she reached the semifinals in both the Women's 100m and 200m at the Paris Olympics, she fell short of making it to the finals.This was Gina's third consecutive appearance at the Olympics.
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