By: Alieu Ceesay
A delegation of international football scouts, led by former Gambian international Cherno Samba, has arrived in The Gambia for a week-long scouting mission aimed at identifying young talents capable of playing at the highest levels of European football.
The visiting team includes scouts from Fulham, Nottingham Forest, and Mjällby AIF, marking the first visit in recent years by representatives from Premier League–linked clubs.
Speaking at the start of the mission, Cherno Samba said the objective is to showcase Gambian talent to the world.
“Talent alone is not enough—you need discipline, hard work, character. My aim is to create a platform that shows the world what Gambia has,” he said.
Fulham’s European scout, Tor Sparv, said he hopes the trip will uncover promising players.
“I’m really happy to be here. I hope to find two or three young talents. Even if I don’t, I will still learn from this experience,” he noted.
Sparv, who spent a decade in Ghana establishing a football academy, said African players continue to rise in global football.
“African players are in demand. Morocco just won the U20s and many African teams will be at the World Cup. We’re in the right place,” he added.
He emphasized that mentality is a key factor for clubs like Fulham:
“Quality is important, but mentality is crucial. To succeed in leagues like Sweden, you must be mentally tough.”
The trip is also the first to Gambia for David Löfquist, Mjällby’s first-team scout, who said he is familiar with the level of Gambian talent.
“When I was at Newcastle, we looked at Adama Bojang. Yankuba Minteh is another example. I know the quality in Gambia and West Africa—the attributes we look for are here,” he said.
The scouts are expected to observe training sessions, friendly matches, and local academies throughout the week as they search for the next generation of Gambian football stars.
