Saintfiet announces provisional squad to face Gabon in upcoming AFCON qualifiers
The scorpions last outing in a 3-1 shock win over Angola in LuandaBy Omar Jatta
The Gambia's national team coach Tom Saintfiet has this afternoon announced his provisional 35-man squad for the upcoming two-legged 2021 African Cup of Nations qualifiers against Gabon.
The list, which was posted on the Gambia Football Federation's website gambiaff.com this afternoon, consisted a mixture of both regular first teamers and new additions including former Belgian U21 fullback Saidy Janko, who is eligible to play for the Gambia through his father.
The 24-year-old former Manchester United star is on the books of Portugese side FC Porto, who have loaned him out to Swiss Premier League side Young Boys FC. The versatile defender, who can also play in midfield had a meeting with the Gambia's coach Tom Saintfeit last month while on scouting tour of Europe.
Other new faces include 18-year-old Gambian forward Musa Juwara of Bologna FC. But surprisingly SV Hamburg's in-form midfielder Bakery Jatta did future in the list as widely expected, although his absence was noted in the statement that accompanied the list.
"The general Public is further informed that Leon Guwara (FC Utrecht, Holland) Bakery Jatta (Hamburger SV, Germany), Noah Sonko Sundeberg ( FK Ostersunds, Sweden ) and Alexander Jallow (FK Goteborg, Sweden ) are not yet available for national duties," the statement reads.
This current list will be trimmed down to 23 players in the lead up to the double encounter with Gabon on the 26th and 30th March, with the first being hosted in Franceville, Gabon and the return leg 4 days later at the Independence Stadium in Bakau.
Goalkeepers
1. Modou JOBE (Jeddah FC, Saudi Arabia),
2. Sheikh SIBI (Virtus Verona, Italy),
3. Baboucarr GAYE (SG Wattenscheid, Germany)
Defenders
4. Pa Modou JAGNE (FC Zürich, Switzerland),
5. Ibou TOURAY (Salford City, England),
6. Alieu Jatta (Cassa Sports, Senegal),
7. Omar COLLEY (Sampdoria, Italy),
8. Mohammed MBYE (Mjällby, Sweden),
9. Bubacarr SANNEH (KV Ostende, Belgium),
10. Maudo Jarju (Austria Wien, Austria),
11. Sulayman BOJANG (Sarpsborg 08, Norway),
12. Ngine Faye NJIE (Cassa Sport, Senegal)
Midfielders
13. Alasana MANNEH (Górnik Zabrze, Poland),
14. Dawda NGUM (Bronshoj, Denmark),
15. Ebou ADAMS (Forest Green, England),
16. Simon Richter (Bronshoj, Denmark),
17. Saidy Janko ( Young Boys Bern, Switzerland),
18. Ebrima Sohna (FC Mosta, Malta),
19. Yusupha Bobb (Lecco, Italy),
20. Sulayman MARREH (AA Gent, Belgium),
21. Hamza BARRY (Hajduk Split, Croatia),
22. Ablie JALLOW (AC Ajaccio, France), a
23. Ebrima COLLEY (Atalanta, Italy),
Forwards
24. Assan CEESAY (VFL Osnabruck, Germany),
25. Bubacarr JOBE (Mjällby, Sweden),
26. Muhammed BADAMOSI (FUS Rabat, Morocco),
27. Adama Jammeh (Etoile Du Sahel, Tunisia),
28. Lamin Jallow (Salernita, Italy),
29. Modou BARROW (Denizlispor Turkey)
30. Musa Barrow (Bologna, Italy)
31. Musa Juwara (Bologna, Italy)
32. Alassana Jatta (Viborg FF Denmark)
33. Nuha Krubally Marong (Granada, Spain)
34. Abdoulie Sanyang (Lommel SK, Belgium)
35. Baboucarr Steve Trawally (Ajman FC UAE).