The Gambia women's national football team (recognized at The Gambia by FIFA)[2] represents the Gambia in international women's football. It is governed by the Gambia Football Federation. As of December 2019, it has only competed in one major international competition, the 2018 Africa Women Cup of Nations qualification. The 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.
| Nickname | The Scorpions | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Association | Gambia Football Federation (GFF) | ||
| Confederation | CAF (Africa) | ||
| Sub-confederation | WAFU (West Africa) | ||
| Head coach | Yahya Manneh | ||
| FIFA code | GAM | ||
| |||
| FIFA ranking | |||
| Current | 134  1 (16 June 2026)[1] | ||
| Highest | 104 (December 2020) | ||
| Lowest | 136 (December 2025) | ||
| First international | |||
 Gambia 2–0 Guinea-Bissau  (Bakau, Gambia; 16 September 2017) | |||
| Biggest win | |||
| Guinea-Bissau 1–4 Gambia (Bissau, Guinea-Bissau; 26 February 2018) Gambia 5–2 Guinea-Bissau (Makeni, Sierra Leone; 28 February 2020)  Sierra Leone 1–4 Gambia (Espargos, Cape Verde; 21 January 2023) Sierra Leone 0–3 Gambia (Nouakchott, Mauritania; 22 May 2025) | |||
| Biggest defeat | |||
 Cameroon 8–0 Gambia (Yaoundé, Cameroon; 18 February 2022) | |||
History
editThe team
editIn 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, the 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. The 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. The Gambia fielded a 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] The Gambia first played Sierra Leone in a pair of qualifying matches for the tournament. The Gambia won the first match 3–0 in Banjul, the Gambia's capital.[9] The return match was delayed for 24 hours and played in Makeni.[9] The Gambia beat Sierra Leone 4–3 to qualify for the final round.[10] The Gambia then beat Tunisia 1–0 at home and won 2–1 in the away fixture. Adama Tamba and Awa Demba scored the Gambia's goals. Tunisia's only goal was a Gambian own goal. The win qualified the Gambia for the 2012 Azerbaijan World Cup.[11]
The Gambia also has an Under -19 team that was to play in the 2002 African U-19 Women's Championship. That Gambian squad's first match was to be against Morocco, but the team withdrew from the competition.[12]
Background and development
editThe 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
editIn September 2016, Fatim Jawara, a member of the national team, left Serrekunda in her homeland the 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] She did this as she sought to smuggle herself into Europe, where the national team was due to play Casa Sports F.C. from Senegal as part of a festival to celebrate women's football.[23] Due to a severe storm, their boats capsized and Jawara drowned at the age of 19, with her family was contacted several days after the tragedy.[23] 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
editHome stadium
editThis section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (November 2020) |
Results and fixtures
editThe 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
2025
edit| 24 October 2025 2026 WAFCON qualifying | Kenya  | 3–1 | Gambia | Nairobi |
| 16:00 UTC+3 | Report (FIFA) |
|
Stadium: Nyayo National Stadium Referee: Aline Guimbang Etong (Cameroon) |
| 28 October 2025 2026 WAFCON qualifying | Gambia | 0–1 | Kenya | Thiès (Senegal) |
| 16:00 UTC+0 | Report (FIFA) |
|
Stadium: Stade Lat-Dior | |
| Note: Kenya won 4–1 on aggregate. | ||||
Coaching staff
editCurrent coaching staff
edit| Position | Name | Ref. |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Mariama Sowe |
|
Manager history
editThis section needs expansion. You can help by adding missing information. (November 2020) |
- Bubacarr Jallow (????–2022)
- Bubacarr Jallow(2022–2023)
- Yahya Manneh (2023–2024 )
- Mariama Sowe (2024-)
Players
editCurrent squad
editThe following is the squad named for the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations qualification against Kenya, announced in October 2025.[24]
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GK | Mary NF Gomez | TMT FC | |||
| 2 | GK | Aminata Gaye | Police FC | |||
| 3 | GK | Diminga Mendy | Berewuleng FC | |||
| 4 | DF | Wuday Colley | Greater Tomorrow FC | |||
| 5 | DF | Bintou Ceesay | Police FC | |||
| 6 | DF | Kaddy Sanyang | Berewuleng FC | |||
| 7 | MF | Manyima Stevelmans | 31 October 2000 |  AEK | ||
| 8 | DF | Juana Colley | Koita FC | |||
| 9 | DF | Fatou Fatty | Red Scorpion FC | |||
| 10 | DF | Jarra Jambang | TMT FC | |||
| 11 | DF | Metta Sanneh | Police FC | |||
| 12 | MF | Mariama Cham |  AS Bambey FC | |||
| 13 | FW | Kaddy Jatta | Red Scorpion FC | |||
| 14 | MF | Kaddijatou Bayo | Red Scorpion FC | |||
| 15 | FW | Kaddijatou Jallow | TMT FC | |||
| 16 | FW | Fatoumata Jammeh | Red Scorpion FC | |||
| 17 | FW | Mam Drammeh | AS Bambey FC | |||
| 18 | MF | Penda Bah |  Viimsi JK | |||
| 19 | FW | Isatou Jallow | Police FC | |||
| 20 | MF | Fatou Kanteh (Captain) | 2 July 1997 |  Sevilla | ||
| 21 | DF | Sarah Jargu | Berewuleng FC | |||
| 22 | FW | Fatou Sonko | Police FC | |||
| 23 | FW | Ola Buwaro |  Locomotive Moskva | |||
Recent call-ups
editThe 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
- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Matty Manga | 5 March 2001 | - | - | Police FC |
v. Guinea,26 May 2025 |
| DF | Fatoumata Erma Mook | - | - | Police FC |
v. Niger,24 February 2025 | |
| DF | Ruggy Joof | 13 April 2001 | - | - |  Determine Girls |
v. Guinea,26 May 2025 |
| DF | Ellen Gai | 28 July 2001 | - | - |  Lady Strikers |
v. Guinea,26 May 2025 |
| MF | Kumba Kassama | - | - | Berewuleng FC |
v. Niger,24 February 2025 | |
| MF | Kaddy Bayo | - | - | Red Scorpion FC |
v. Guinea,26 May 2025 | |
| MF | Mbassey Darboe | 20 May 1998 | - | - | Determine Girls |
v. Guinea,26 May 2025 |
| MF | Salimata Saidykhan | 23 January 2005 | - | - | Shaita Angels |
v. Guinea,26 May 2025 |
| FW | Kumba Kuyateh | 30 October 2002 | - | - | Red Scorpion FC |
v. Niger,24 February 2025 |
| FW | Catherine Jatta | 21 November 2001 | - | - | Determine Girls |
v. Guinea,26 May 2025 |
| FW | Kaddy Jarju | 2 January 2004 | - | - | Shaita Angels |
v. Guinea,26 May 2025 |
Previous squads
edit- WAFU Zone A Women's Cup
Records
edit*Active players in bold, statistics correct as of 1 August 2021.
Most capped playersedit
|
Top goalscorersedit
|
Competitive record
editFIFA Women's World Cup
edit
Olympic Games
edit
Africa Women Cup of Nations
edit| Africa Women Cup of Nations record | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Result | Matches | Wins | Draws | Losses | GF | GA | |
| 1991 | Did not enter | |||||||
| 1995 | ||||||||
 1998 | ||||||||
 2000 | ||||||||
| 2002 | ||||||||
| 2004 | ||||||||
| 2006 | ||||||||
 2008 | ||||||||
| 2010 | ||||||||
| 2012 | ||||||||
 2014 | ||||||||
| 2016 | ||||||||
| 2018 | Did not qualify | |||||||
 2020 | Cancelled due to covid | |||||||
 2022 | Did not qualify | |||||||
| 2024 | Did not qualify | |||||||
| Total | 0/13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
- *Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.
African Games
edit
WAFU Women's Cup record
edit| WAFU Zone A Women's Cup | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Result | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
| 2020 | Group Stage | 5th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 10 |
| Total | Group Stage | 1/1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 17 |
Honours
edit
All−time record against FIFA recognized nations
editThe list shown below shows the Djibouti national football team all−time international record against opposing nations.
*As of xxxxxx after match against xxxx.
- Key
| Against | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Confederation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Record per opponent
edit*As ofxxxxx after match against xxxxx.
- Key
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
edit.svg){kind=small}
- Sport in the Gambia
- Football in the Gambia
- Women's football in the Gambia
- Football in the Gambia
- Gambia national football team, the men's team
- Women's football
References
edit- ↑ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking". 16 June 2026. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
- ↑ "The Gambia". FIFA. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
- ↑ Chrös McDougall (1 January 2012). Soccer. ABDO. p. 45. ISBN 978-1-61783-146-1. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
- 1 2 3 "Goal! Football: Gambie" (PDF). FIFA. 21 April 2009. p. 3. Retrieved 16 April 2012.[dead link]
- ↑ 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) - ↑ http://www.cafonline.com/en-us/competitions/11theditionwomenafcon-ghana2018/Fixtures?roundId=b5b9XUlkEPMAUe1kOhsANknd7oWMBWxJVgdPBHTlgJr9z70IRXPNalV%2b6nUnzydk 2018 CAF Cup of Nations Qualifying First Round Fixtures
- ↑ http://www.cafonline.com/en-us/competitions/11theditionwomenafcon-ghana2018/Fixtures?roundId=s0WFLeaiyMTF9ZW6A2P2K1bFD4SeGhnZHUqvKvqW40oxroG0RTQDjUw1wbfCebMP 2018 CAF Cup of Nations Qualifying Second Round Fixtures
- 1 2 "Goal for the girls!". SOS Children's Villages International. 21 January 2012. Archived from the original on 31 May 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
- 1 2 3 "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.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "Gambian Girls Make Heroic Return". Gambia: Gambia Football Association. Archived from the original on 28 May 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
- ↑ "African Women U-19 Championship 2002". Rsssf.com. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Richard Giulianotti; David McArdle (2006). Sport, Civil Liberties and Human Rights. Routledge. p. 77. ISBN 978-0-7146-5344-0. Retrieved 28 June 2012.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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.
- 1 2 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.
- ↑ 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.
- 1 2 3 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) - ↑ "Goal! Football: Gambie" (PDF). FIFA. 21 April 2009. p. 1. Retrieved 16 April 2012.[dead link]
- 1 2 France-Presse, Agense (2 November 2016). "Gambian national goalkeeper dies during Mediterranean crossing". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
- ↑ Jason Burke (3 November 2016). "Gambia goalkeeper who died in Mediterranean wanted to play in Europe". the Guardian. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
- 1 2 "Gambia goalkeeper dies trying to reach Europe". BBC News. 3 November 2016. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
- ↑ GFF (October 2025). "Final squad for AWCON qualifier vs Kenya". Retrieved 15 November 2025 – via Facebook.