The Gambia has once again secured a spot at the AFCON, although the journey has been fraught with challenges. These challenges range from players boycotting an open training session due to alleged unpaid bonuses to a harrowing incident during the squad’s journey to Afcon 2023. Coach Tom Saintfiet disclosed a near-tragedy when their Air Cote d’Ivoire flight had to turn back due to a suspected lack of oxygen, resulting in players fainting.
Notwithstanding the adversities faced, the trajectory of Gambian football towards the prestigious stage is intriguing. The pivotal turning point occurred with the appointment of Tom Saintfiet in 2018. Prior to his tenure, The Gambia had not secured a qualifier victory in five years and was languishing at the 172nd position in the world rankings. Sanfiet harbored the ambitious dream of qualifying for their maiden tournament. Demonstrating his commitment, he personally traversed Europe, incurring his own expenses, to persuade players with dual nationality to represent The Gambia. Consequently, six members of the squad boasted Italian roots. The 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification witnessed their surprising victories against Angola, both home and away, a notable home win against Gabon, a loss away to DRC, and a draw at home, securing their qualification as Group D winners.
Entering the 2021 AFCON as the lowest-ranked side at 150th, The Gambia triumphed over Mauritania and Tunisia, and drew with Mali to advance from the group in their inaugural attempt. In the round of 16, they continued their momentum, narrowly defeating Guinea. However, despite a goalless first half against hosts Cameroon, The Gambia was eliminated in the quarterfinal, succumbing to a 2-0 defeat.
The resilience displayed by The Gambia persisted in the 2023 AFCON qualifiers. In the final qualifier against Congo, they needed two goals in the last 10 minutes to secure qualification. In a dramatic turn of events, the equalizer materialized in the 90th minute, eliciting jubilation among home fans who were on the brink of witnessing a defeat and the potential of missing AFCON. The draw meant the Scorpions qualified as the runner-up, behind eventual group winners Mali, securing a consecutive spot in AFCON.
As they return to the tournament, The Gambia once again carries the underdog tag. The question lingers – can they replicate the remarkable performance of the previous edition?
