By: Foday Manneh
The first Vice President of the Gambia Football Federation (GFF), who also doubles as the head of the delegation to Egypt, Bakary Jammeh, has urged Gambians to remain united and pray for the Gambia U20 ahead of today’s AFCON final against Senegal.
“To the Gambian people, we have united to support the team. Therefore, let’s remain united and continue praying for the team, not only today but even beyond this after the final because preparation for Indonesia begins immediately after Saturday,” Jammeh told Alkamba Times Sports from his base in the Egyptian capital, Cairo.
Jammeh, optimistic about victory, added, “the principal objective for the Federation was a World Cup qualification because GFF wants all categories of national teams, both male and female, to compete in tournaments organized by WAFU, CAF, and FIFA.”
Meanwhile, VP Jammeh highlighted some of the best possible preparations for the young scorpions ahead of this tournament to help them reach the ultimate goal.
“The team started a non-residential camp at the National Training Center in Yundum under the supervision of the coach and coaching staff who had their technical preparation and number of test games,” Jammeh told TAT.
“The Federation has also arranged for the team to arrive earlier in Egypt for a training camp and a test game. There was a test game they played against Mozambique,” he said.
Despite qualifying for the last planned U20 World Cup, canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Gambia returned to this youth competition with the same ambition and had fulfilled it yet again.
“Qualifying for the World Cup is important, especially to the Federation. It shows how football is growing, and Gambia has talents,” Jammeh maintained.
“We wanted to go beyond being bronze medalists. Now, we have qualified for the finals of U20 for the first time in our country’s history, which means a lot to the entire Gambian population,”
The head of the delegation with the team also shared his experience in the host country, describing it as “good” in Egypt.
For the boys ahead of the final today, Mr. Jammeh has this to say;
“It is a critical day for GFF and the entire Gambian population. And playing and winning against our close neighbors and rivals Senegal will be heart-touching.”
“Let them go and make history. Let them continue doing what they are doing and stay focused. Remain as those great ambassadors that have united our country behind this team,” he concluded.
