A team with a strong mentality

In the round of 16 against Guinea, Gambia won 1-0 with a goal by star player Musa Barrow to qualify for the quarterfinals of the African soccer tournament. They were thus two games away from the tournament’s title race.

After this triumph, the small African republic of Gambia became a beacon of hope. Although it has one of the lowest GDPs (Gross Domestic Product) per capita in the world. The eyes of the world were on their national soccer team for what they did in the Africa Cup of Nations, as they left Mauritania, Mali, Tunisia and Guinea in their wake.

For the players of this team, the key to success is the hard work and determination they all have together. That’s why they achieved these goals by believing in themselves. “We don’t have stars in the team. We are one Gambia, one nation,” said Bubacarr Sanneh, a Gambian national team player with significant experience in European soccer, having played for Anderlecht of Belgium.

What you need to know about the Africa Cup of Nations

This tournament is made up of six groups of four participants, and then the first two places plus the four best third-placed teams qualify for the Round of 16.

The coronavirus pandemic forced the postponement of this tournament, which is why the name of the tournament has been kept as 2021 for branding reasons. It was held with 24 teams from January 9 to February 6, 2022, in Cameroon.

A total of 52 matches were held in the regions of Limbe, Douala, Yaoundé, Bafoussam and Garúa. Japoma, Paul Biya, Ahmadou Ahidjo, Roumdé Adjia, Kouekong and Limbé were the stadiums that hosted the matches.

More about Gambia’s qualification for Africa Cup of Nations:

• What makes Barrow special for Gambia?
• The Gambia’s fairytale – an inside view of debutants’ formidable run
• How African Cup of Nations started?