Coach Johnathan McKinstry has announced a preliminary 35-man squad for Gambia’s upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, against Somalia and Ghana.
The Scorpions will first play Somalia at home on September 25 and then play away in Ghana against The Black Stars, on the 29 September.
The match against Somalia marks the Scorpions’ return to The Independence Stadium after well over five years.
According to the Gambia Football Federation GFF, the coming international window is extended up to October 6, allowing countries to even play friendlies after the official qualifiers.
“Accordingly, negotiations and plans may be on for a potential friendly match at home on or before the October 6 deadline. However, this plan still needs to be confirmed,” the GFF said in a statement yesterday
Coach McKinstry meanwhile is already excited about the return of football at the Independence Stadium.
“For many of our players, it will be their first chance to represent The Gambia on home soil,” he told the GFF media.
“It has also been pleasing to see so many players start the club season strongly, with several delivering standout performances. That made selecting this preliminary 35-player squad difficult, and reducing it to the final group assembling in Banjul on 21 September will be even tougher. But that competition is a positive one. We know we will arrive with a group that is in form, highly motivated and ready to perform for The Gambia,” the coach added,