Sheikh Sibi

Sheikh Sibi (born 21 February 1998) is a Gambian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Italian Serie C Group A club Virtus Verona and the Gambia national team.[1]

Sheikh Sibi
Personal information
Full name Sheikh Sibi
Date of birth (1998-02-21) 21 February 1998
Place of birth Serekunda, The Gambia
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Club information
Current team
 Virtus Verona
Number 22
Youth career
Tallinding United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016– Virtus Verona 68 (0)
National team‡
2021– Gambia 3 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20 February 2022
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 12 October 2021

Early life

Sibi was born in Serekunda to a Gambian mother and a Mauritanian father.[2] He left Gambia at the age of 16 with the hope of migrating to Europe. During the journey, he crossed the Sahara desert and reached Tripoli, where he worked as a painter for five months. In July 2015, he crossed the Mediterranean Sea in a boat and reached the Italian island of Lampedusa.[3]

Club career

Following his arrival in Italy, Sibi was assigned to Costagrande Reception Center in Verona. He soon moved to Virtus Vita, a non-profit organization which welcomes migrants. Since Virtus Vita and Virtus Verona were owned by the same company Vencomp, it helped Sibi to continue his football career.[4]

Sibi made his club debut for Virtus Verona on 30 October 2016 in a 2–1 Serie D defeat to Union Feltre. He made his Serie C and professional debut on 16 September 2018 in a 2–0 defeat to Fermana.[5]

International career

Sibi has received several call-ups to the Gambia national team since June 2019.[6] He made his international debut on 29 March 2021 in a 1–0 defeat to DR Congo.[7]

Career statistics

International
As of match played 12 October 2021[8]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Gambia 202130
Total30

References
  1. Sheikh Sibi at Soccerway
  2. "Scorpions Profile- Sheikh Sibi, Goal Keeper". Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  3. "Sibi, che storia! "La mia speranza in un barcone. Ora il calcio a Verona"". Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  4. "Fere, occhio a Sibi: dal barcone alla Virtus Verona col mito di Buffon". Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  5. "Fermana vs. Virtus Verona - 16 September 2018". Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  6. "Sibi Sheikh: dall'inferno del Mediterraneo al paradiso della Nazionale". Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  7. "Sheikh Sibi gets heroic status after impressive Gambia debut". 30 March 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  8. "Profile of Sheikh Sibi". Retrieved 9 March 2022.
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