By: Bubacarr Fallaboweh
The Gambia quarterfinals place in AFCON and Gambia U20 World Cup appearance in Argentina is paying dividends as the country’s talents have started announcing themselves on the world stage.
This will be regarded as one of the best transfer windows in Gambian football history. The window started with Newcastle signing Yankuba Minteh for a record fee from Odense B.K., later loaning him to Feyenoord in the Netherlands. The window was sealed with Musa Barrow leaving Bologna to join the Saudi Pro League Al Taawoun on a three-year contract, with the club bringing Gambian presence in the Gulf state to three players for the 2023/2024 season.
Eleven out of the Gambia U20 who went to the World Cup in Argentina penned professional contracts abroad. An official number of 68 players moved during the summer transfer. Ali Sowe extended his loan deal in Turkey, signaling that he will likely stay in Turkey. After a short loan move to Slovakia and Moldovia, Maudo Jarju and Bubacarr Tambedou returned to their parent clubs.
Alieu Jatta sealed his much-deserved move to El Gouna after playing four seasons in the second division of Egypt. Countries like Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, and Algeria, which saw a junk number of Gambian players move (10) in number, are regarded as one of the best leagues across Africa because of their coefficient in the CAF ranking and their vast presence together with their success in inter-club competitions. This will help the players grow competitive-wise; Lamin Jallow’s move to Algeria testified that the North African club can compete with clubs in the European markets.
South Africa PSL has two former Real de Banjul talents, Kjallay Drammeh and Salifu Colley. The PSL was hard for Gambian to break into, but Matar Ceesay broke that barrier when he featured for the Usuthu in his short stint. The Gambia is moving a giant step because they have players in Angola, Tanzania, and North Africa, despite Senegal having the highest number of Gambian players in Africa.
The number of Local players that made moves should make the rest of the local players proud despite the Gambia not making progress in the CHAN tournament.
The playing field has changed, and many players were usually sent on trials in the past, but this summer, players penned either a permanent or loan move. Real de Banjul remains the sole export of players abroad; Fortune has jumped to number two with their latest transfers in current and previous windows. Newly promoted First division side BST Galaxy and TMT have signaled that they will send more players abroad. Bakau Komani and Greater Tomorrow are the backbone because most players were developed by Dembo Saidykhan, James Gomez, Adama Bojang, and Momodou Jallow, who all moved this summer.
Korka Jallow (Hapoel Haifa F.C.) and Mansour Badjie (Maccabi Haifa) are from the Superstars Academy project. Still, just like the two, a host of them were taken to Israel, but only a few delivered is Saikou Touray, who is now in France with Grenoble.
The CEO of the academy said, “Some of them can’t make the adjustments from U19 to professional, and there is a limitation of 2-3 non-Israeli players in every squad.”
This is why countries must perform in the Afcon U20 World Cup U20. The U20 stands as a platform to announce that players Neymar, Andre Ayew, Messi, and Thomas Muller had their moments in the U20. The Gambia have worked remarkably to bypass Nigeria and Ghana in dominating the U20 with Senegal.
Senegal’s advantage over the Gambia is that academies and clubs own most players. Their project is exceptional, from having a coach who focuses on his project, assisted by technicians who see these players weekly. The Gambia finished bronze in Afcon under Coach Matar Mboge and went one step further under Abdoulie Bojang by booking a spot in World Cup U20, its third time in history. Players were determined and even showed that in the competition. Alagie was offered a season loan to A.C. Horsens but signed a four-year contract and has started 5 of A.C. Horsens’s current campaigns. The captain’s qualities and leadership were the tip of the ice, meaning the rest were equally good to break through in Europe.
Mahmud Bajo, Sainey Sanyang, Pa Ebou Dampha, Mohammed Sawaneh, and Bakary Juwara all signed contracts, among others, including star player Adama Bojang, whom the Gambian guru agent Modou lamin Beyai described his move as an ‘Inspiration.’
“Adama Bojang’s move to Stade de Reims will inspire the future Gambia U17 and U20 if we register players to participate in these categories. It will motivate the younger generation that Adama Bojang played in the Gambia, played U20 World Cup, and went straight to sign for a club in a top league.”
Playing Time
Sainey Njie had an excellent loan spell, but the midfielder’s tenure with DAC 1904 has ended after making 47 appearances. Ebrima Darboe, who was out due to a knee injury, has joined Austrian side LASK. The midfielder was sought after in Belgium, France, and Italy just before his injury. Lots of players have moved permanently to have more playing time, and it has paid a dividend in Musa Juwara’s case; we will be hoping for a similar chance for Pa Modou Sohna, Mustapha Jah, Ebrima Singahteh, Kajally Drammeh all sent out on loan.
Permanent Signing
Modou Jobe (Musanze FC), Yusupha Njie (Al markhiya S.C.), Alieu Fadera (KRC Genk), Musa Barrow (AL Taawoun), Ibou Touray (Stockport County), Saidy Janko (Young Boyz) James Gomez (Sparta Prag), Noah Sonko (PFC Ludogorets) Sheriff Sinyan (Slavia Prague) Assan Ceesay (Damac F.C.) Leon Guwara (F.C. Ingolstadt) Musa Juwara (Vejle B.K.) Sainey Njie (FK Radnik Surdulica), Nuha Marong (Oman Club), Momodou Bojang (KawKab club), Gibril Silla (AS Azam), Lamin Jallow (CR Belouizdad), Bubacarr Sanneh (FK Zvijezda 09), Pa Modou Sohna (Jeunesse Sportive Soualem), Lamarana Jallow (AEK Athens) Alieu Jatta (El Gouna), Baba Ceesay (Avenir Sportif de Soliman), Abdoulie Gassama (Mouloudia Club d´Alger), Habibu Camara (CasaSports), Sulayman Faal (CasaSports), Abdoulie Bah (CasaSports), Moses Jarju (FC Polissya), Adama Bojang (Stade de Reims), Muhammed Sawaneh (Zed Fc), Mahmudu Bajo (Železiarne Podbrezová), Pa Ebou Dampha (CasaSports), Salifu Colley (Stellenbosch FC), Dembo Saidykhan (Vancouver Whitecaps F.C.), Sainey Sanyang (Cska Sofia), Mamin Sanyang (Hannover 96), Bakary Kuyateh (AS POMPIE), Sidiki Jawara (Hapoel Nof Hagalil), Basirou Badjie (MSK Zilina), Buba Jammeh (Estrella De Amadora), Solomon Kanform (FK Bregalnica) Ousman Babou Sanneh (Avenir Soliman) Omar Faye (Moghreb Atlectico de Tetouan)
Loan
Yankuba Minteh (Feyenoord), Ebrima Darboe (LASK), Mohammed Badamoesi (Al-Hazem), Modou Barrow (Sivasspor), Susso Bamba (NK Aluminij Kidricevo), Babou Cham (FC Nõmme), Modou Camara (Unii Solec Kujawski), Mustapha Jah (AFC Chindia), Muhammed Jallow (Ac Horsens), Muhammed Lamin Bah ( Nof hagalil), Kebba Sowe (Avenir Sportif De Soliman), Ebrima Singhateh (FC Sellier & Bellot Vlašim), Fakebba Jammeh (CasaSports), Lamin Trawally (CasaSports) Adama Jammeh (CasaSports), Modou Faal (Donncaster) Muhammed Sanneh (FC Sellier & Bellot Vlašim), Kalifa Kujabi (Torres 1903), Kalifa Manneh (U.S. Alessandria Calcio) Alieu Jammeh (Peyia) Bakary Jawara (FK Pohronie) Ebrima Colley (Young Boys) Kitabou Gajigo (Hapoel Raanana) Alieu Gibba (Paide) Kajally Drammeh (Future F.C.)
