Gambia women's national football team

The Gambia
Nickname(s)The Scorpions
AssociationGambia Football Association
ConfederationCAF (Africa)
Sub-confederationWAFU (West Africa)
Head coachBubacarr Jallow
FIFA codeGAM
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 122 1 (25 March 2022)[1]
Highest104 (December 2020)
Lowest122 (March 2022)
First international
 Morocco 2–1 Gambia 
(Rabat, Morocco; 4 April 2018) [2]
Biggest win
 Sierra Leone 0–2 Gambia 
(Monrovia, Liberia; 18 October 2021)
Biggest defeat
 Cameroon 8–0 Gambia 
(Yaoundé, Cameroon; 18 February 2022)
World Cup
Appearances0
Olympic Games
Appearances0
Africa Women Cup of Nations
Appearances0

This article is about the women's team. For the men's team, see Gambia national football team.

The Gambia women's national football team represents The Gambia in international women's football. It is governed by the Gambia Football Association. As of December 2019, it has only competed in one major international competition, attempting to qualify for the 2018 Africa Cup of Nations. Gambia has two youth teams, an under-17 side that has competed in FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup qualifiers, and an under-19 side that withdrew from regional qualifiers for an under-19 World Cup. The development of a national team faces challenges similar to those across Africa, although the national football association has four staff members focusing on women's football.

History

The team

In 1985, few countries had women's national football teams.[3] While the sport gained popularity worldwide in later decades, the Gambia's national team only played its first game in 2007.[4][5] That game was not FIFA-recognized.

The Gambian Senior National Team's first appearance at a major event occurred in April 2018 when they lost a 1-2 result at Burkina Faso in the opening round of qualifying for the 2018 Africa Cup of Nations. In the second leg of the fixture, Gambia produced a 2–1 victory of their own. As the results of both legs were identical, a penalty shoot-out was required to determine which squad would advance. Gambia converted all five of its penalty kicks, and advanced to the second round of qualifying.[6] the Gambia drew the defending Cup of Nations Champions Nigeria as their second round opponent. They failed to score against the Super Falcons, and were eliminated from the tournament with a 0–7 aggregate line.[7]

The country did not have a FIFA-recognised youth national team until 2012, when the Gambia under-17 women's team competed in Confederation of African Football qualifiers for the FIFA U-17 World Cup, to be held in Azerbaijan in September 2012. Gambia fielded an under-17 team of 24 players, narrowed from an initial pool of 49 young women.[8][9] Two girls from the SOS Children’s Village Bakoteh were chosen as a members of the team.[8] Gambia first played Sierra Leone in a pair of qualifying matches for the tournament. Gambia won the first match 3–0 in Banjul, Gambia's capital.[9] The return match was delayed for 24 hours and played in Makeni.[9] Gambia beat Sierra Leone 4–3 to qualify for the final round.[10] Gambia then beat Tunisia 1–0 at home and won 2–1 in Tunisia. Adama Tamba and Awa Demba scored the Gambia's goals. Tunisia's only goal was a Gambian own goal. The win qualified Gambia for the 2012 Azerbaijan World Cup.[11]

The Gambia also has an under-19 team that was to play in the African Women's U-19 Championship in 2002. That Gambian squad's first match was to be against Morocco, but the team withdrew from the competition.[12]

Background and development

The development of women's football in Africa faces several challenges, including limited access to education, poverty amongst women, inequalities and human rights abuses targeting women.[13][14][15][16] Funding is another issue impacting the game in Africa, where most financial assistance comes from FIFA and not national football associations.[17] Another challenge is the retention of football players. Many women footballers leave the continent to seek greater opportunity in Europe or the United States.[17]

Gambia's national football association was founded in 1952, and became affiliated with FIFA in 1968.[18][19] Football is the most popular women's sport in the country, and was first played in an organized system in 1998.[19] A national competition was launched in 2007,[20] the same year FIFA started an education course on football for women.[4] Competition was active on both the national and scholastic levels by 2009.[4] There are four staffers dedicated to women's football in the Gambia Football Association, and representation of women on the board is required by the association's charter.[19]

Death of Fatim Jawara

In September 2016, Fatim Jawara, a player of the national team, left her homeland Serrekunda in Gambia and crossed the Sahara Desert to Libya.[21] In November 2016, she travelled with others on two boats across the Mediterranean Sea, heading towards the Lampedusa island of Italy.[22] Due to a severe storm, their boats sunk and Jawara drowned. She was 19 years old.[23] Her absence was first noted when the national team was due to play Casa Sports F.C. from Senegal as part of a festival to celebrate women's football. Jawara sought to smuggle herself into Europe, attempting crossing the Mediterranean Sea by boat to Italy.[23] She travelled first to Libya, before boarding the boat.[21] Several days after the attempt, her family was contacted by the agent to inform them that her boat had capsized, and she had drowned.[23]

Reactions to her death

Lamin Kaba Bajo, President of the Gambia Football Federation, said "We are grieving at the moment as this is a great loss to the national soccer team and the nation."[21]

Team image

Results and fixtures
See also: 2022 in association football, 2022 in sports, and FIFA International Match Calendar

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

Legend

  Win   Draw   Lose   Fixture

2021
18 October 2021 (2021-10-18) 2022 AFWCON qualification First round 1st leg Sierra Leone  0–2  Gambia Monrovia, Liberia
Report
  • Buwaru 53'
  • Joof 77'
 Stadium: Antoinette Tubman Stadium
25 October 2021 (2021-10-25) 2022 AFWCON qualification First round 2nd leg Gambia  1–1
(3–1 agg.)		  Sierra Leone Bakau, Gambia
Report Stadium: Independence Stadium
Note: Gambia won 3–1 on aggregate.

2022
18 February 2022 AFWCON qualification Second round 1st leg Cameroon  8–0  Gambia Yaoundé
 Report Stadium: Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo
Referee: Akhona Makalima (South Africa)
22 February 2022 AFWCON qualification Second round 2nd leg Gambia  1–2
(1–10 agg.)		  Cameroon Bakau
  • Jatta 56'
 Report
Stadium: Independence Stadium
Referee: Mame Coumba Faye (Senegal)
Note: Cameroon won 10–1 on aggregate.
7 April International Friendly Morocco  6–1  Gambia

Coaching staff

Current coaching staff
Position Name Ref.
Head coach Mariama Sowe

Manager history
  • Bubacarr Jallow (????–2022)
  • Bubacarr Jallow(2022-)

Players

Current squad

The following players were called up to play at two International Friendly on April 2022.[24]

Caps and goals accurate up to and including 19 June 2021.

  • List of players still not update
No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Club
22 1GK Mariama Ceesay (1998-01-22) 22 January 1998
1GK Aminata Gaye (1996-03-03) 3 March 1996
18 1GK Matty Manga
7 2DF Fatou Darboe
2DF Mariama Bojang (1997-10-03) 3 October 1997
16 2DF Rohey Samba
13 2DF Ruggy Joof (2001-04-13) 13 April 2001
14 3MF Bintou Ceesay
3MF Fatou Sowe
3MF Fatou Fatty
3MF Kaddy Jatta
3MF Kumba Kuyateh
23 3MF Neneh Jallow
9 3MF Ola Buwaro
4FW Awa Jawo (1997-02-21) 21 February 1997
12 4FW Catherine Jatta
4 Fatou Sonko
4FW Jabou Jobarteh
2 4FW Mbasey Darboe

Recent call-ups

The following players have been called up to a Gambia squad in the past 12 months.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
DF Clarra Gomez (1997-06-06) 6 June 1997 2022 AFWCON qualification First round
DF Amie Jarju (1996-09-15) 15 September 1996 2022 AFWCON qualification First round
DF Binta Colley (1997-10-11) 11 October 1997 - - 2022 AFWCON qualification Second round
DF Metta Sanneh (1993-02-10) 10 February 1993 - - 2022 AFWCON qualification Second round
MF Mamie Sylva (1992-04-25) 25 April 1992 2022 AFWCON qualification First round
MF Mama Saidy (1996-04-04) 4 April 1996 2022 AFWCON qualification First round
MF Mam Drammeh (2001-04-10) 10 April 2001 2022 AFWCON qualification First round
MF Ajara Samba (1998-06-26) 26 June 1998 2022 AFWCON qualification First round
MF Fanta Jarju (2003-04-11) 11 April 2003 2022 AFWCON qualification First round
MF Penda Bah (captain) (1998-08-17) 17 August 1998 - - 2022 AFWCON qualification Second round
MF Awa Tamba (1998-08-29) 29 August 1998 - - 2022 AFWCON qualification Second round
FW Isatou Jallow (1997-10-10) 10 October 1997 Rivers Angels 2022 AFWCON qualification First round
FW Aminata Camara (2002-11-21) 21 November 2002 2022 AFWCON qualification First round
FW Adama Tamba (1998-08-29) 29 August 1998 - - Grenoble 2022 AFWCON qualification Second round
FW Haleema Frøiland 2002 (age 19–20) - - Luzern
FW Ida Mbaye - - 2022 AFWCON qualification Second round
Penda Colley - - 2022 AFWCON qualification Second round
Jalika Badjie - - 2022 AFWCON qualification Second round

Records

*Active players in bold, statistics correct as of 1 August 2021.

Competitive record

FIFA Women's World Cup
FIFA Women's World Cup record
Year Result GP W D* L GF GA GD
1991Did Not Enter
1995
1999
2003
2007
2011
2015
2019Did Not Qualify
2023Did Not Qualify
Total0/9-------
*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

Olympic Games
Summer Olympics record
Year Result GP W D* L GF GA GD
1996Did Not Enter
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
2021
Total0/7-------

Africa Women Cup of Nations
Africa Women Cup of Nations record
Year Result Matches Wins Draws Losses GF GA
1991Did Not Enter
1995
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018Did Not Qualify
2020Cancelled due to covid
2022Did Not Qualify
Total0/13000000
*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

African Games
African Games record
Year Result Matches Wins Draws Losses GF GA
2003 Did Not Enter
2007
2011 Did Not Qualify
2015
2019
2023 To Be Determined
Total0/4000000

WAFU Women's Cup record
WAFU Zone A Women's Cup
Year Result Position Pld W D L GF GA
2020Group Stage5th3102410
TotalGroup Stage1/13003117

All−time record against FIFA recognized nations

The list shown below shows the Djibouti national football team all−time international record against opposing nations.
*As of xxxxxx after match against xxxx.

Key
  Positive balance (more wins than losses)
  Neutral balance (as many wins as losses)
  Negative balance (more losses than wins)
Against Pld W D L GF GA GD Confederation

    Record per opponent

    *As ofxxxxx after match against xxxxx.

    Key
      Positive balance (more wins than losses)
      Neutral balance (as many wins as losses)
      Negative balance (more losses than wins)

    The following table shows Djibouti's all-time official international record per opponent:

    Opponent Pld W D L GF GA GD W% Confederation
    Total—

    See also

    References
    1. "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking". FIFA. 25 March 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
    2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 13 April 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
    3. Chrös McDougall (1 January 2012). Soccer. ABDO. p. 45. ISBN 978-1-61783-146-1. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
    4. "Goal! Football: Gambie" (PDF). FIFA. 21 April 2009. p. 3. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
    5. Saavedra, Martha; Centerfor African Studies, University of California, Berkeley (December 2007). "Women's Football in Africa" (PDF). Third Transnational Meeting on Sport and Gender, Urbino. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 December 2013. Retrieved 17 April 2012.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
    6. http://www.cafonline.com/en-us/competitions/11theditionwomenafcon-ghana2018/Fixtures?roundId=b5b9XUlkEPMAUe1kOhsANknd7oWMBWxJVgdPBHTlgJr9z70IRXPNalV%2b6nUnzydk 2018 CAF Cup of Nations Qualifying First Round Fixtures
    7. http://www.cafonline.com/en-us/competitions/11theditionwomenafcon-ghana2018/Fixtures?roundId=s0WFLeaiyMTF9ZW6A2P2K1bFD4SeGhnZHUqvKvqW40oxroG0RTQDjUw1wbfCebMP 2018 CAF Cup of Nations Qualifying Second Round Fixtures
    8. "Goal for the girls!". SOS Children's Villages International. 21 January 2012. Archived from the original on 31 May 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
    9. "Sierra Leone host Gambia in FIFA Women's U-17 qualifying match in Makeni". Sierra Leone Football. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
    10. "Gambia beat Tunisia on the 1st lega of the Final Round". Gambia: Gambia Football Association. Archived from the original on 28 May 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
    11. "Gambian Girls Make Heroic Return". Gambia: Gambia Football Association. Archived from the original on 28 May 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
    12. "African Women U-19 Championship 2002". Rsssf.com. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
    13. Jean Williams (15 December 2007). A Beautiful Game: International Perspectives on Women's Football. Berg. p. 186. ISBN 978-1-84520-674-1. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
    14. Richard Giulianotti; David McArdle (2006). Sport, Civil Liberties and Human Rights. Routledge. p. 77. ISBN 978-0-7146-5344-0. Retrieved 28 June 2012.
    15. Chris Hallinan; Steven J. Jackson (31 August 2008). Social And Cultural Diversity In A Sporting World. Emerald Group Publishing. pp. 40–41. ISBN 978-0-7623-1456-0. Retrieved 28 June 2012.
    16. Jean Williams (18 December 2003). A Game for Rough Girls?: A History of Women's Football in Britain. Routledge. pp. 173–175. ISBN 978-0-415-26338-2. Retrieved 28 June 2012.
    17. Gabriel Kuhn (24 February 2011). Soccer Vs. the State: Tackling Football and Radical Politics. PM Press. p. 34. ISBN 978-1-60486-053-5. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
    18. Ballard, John; Suff, Paul (1999). The dictionary of football : the complete A-Z of international football from Ajax to Zinedine Zidane. London: Boxtree. p. 258. ISBN 0752224344. OCLC 59442612.
    19. FIFA (2006). "Women's Football Today" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 August 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2012. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
    20. "Goal! Football: Gambie" (PDF). FIFA. 21 April 2009. p. 1. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
    21. France-Presse, Agense (2 November 2016). "Gambian national goalkeeper dies during Mediterranean crossing". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
    22. Jason Burke (3 November 2016). "Gambia goalkeeper who died in Mediterranean wanted to play in Europe". the Guardian. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
    23. "Gambia goalkeeper dies trying to reach Europe". BBC News. 3 November 2016. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
    24. Squad for Morocco friendly
    This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.