Jatta finally gets Gambia call after proving his identity

Bakery Jatta

Friday Oct 25, 2019. 11:00

Gambia coach Tom Saintfiet has named a couple of former refugees in his provisional squad for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Angola and DR Congo next month, and has also welcomed back a trio of players who have recently declined call-ups.

Hamburg midfielder Bakery Jatta was previously the subject of an investigation over his identity and age but has cleared, and has been included in the list of 36 players, which will be reduced to 23 for the two matches.

Belgian Saintfiet has long wanted to bring the midfielder into the fold, but could not while his identity was under investigation after a German newspaper expose that failed to back up their claims with evidence.

Musa Juwara, 17, who made a crossing of the Mediterranean Sea to reach Italy as a refugee in 2016, has also been included having made his professional debut for Italian Serie A side Chievo in May. He has since moved to Bologna.

Ajman Club (UAE), Hamza Barry (Hajduk Split, Croatia) and Modou Barrow (Denizlispor, Turkey) have all been called after they turned down call-ups in June and did not feature in the 2022 World Cup and 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers recently.

Three locally-based players have made the list – goalkeeper Alagie Nyabally, and defenders Njine Faye Njie and Hamidou Bojang.

Gambia start their campaign away at Angola on November 13, a chance for revenge after Palancas Negras knocked them out of the World Cup qualifiers in September with a 3-1 aggregate win.

They will then host DR Congo almost a week later on November 19.

Gambia provisional squad:

Goalkeepers: Modou Jobe (Jeddah FC, Saudi Arabia), Sheikh Sibi (Virtus Verona, Italy), Baboucarr Gaye (SG Wattenscheid, Germany), Alagie Nyabally (GPA)

Defenders: Pa Modou Jagne (FC Zürich, Switzerland), Ibou Touray (Salford City, England), Omar Colley (Sampdoria, Italy), Mohammed Mbye (Mjällby, Sweden), Bubacarr Sanneh (Göztepe, Turkey), Sulayman Bojang (Kongsvinger IL, Norway), Ngine Faye Njie (Gamtel), Hamidou Bojang (Real de Banjul), Alieu Jatta (Casa Sports, Senegal)

Midfielders: Alasana Manneh (Górnik Zabrze, Poland), Dawda Ngum (FC Roskilde, Denmark), Ebou Adams (Forest Green, England), Ebrima Sohna (Unattached), Sulayman Marreh (KAS Eupen, Belgium), Hamza Barry (Hajduk Split, Croatia), Ablie Jallow (AC Ajaccio, France), Ebrima Colley (Atalanta, Italy), Sheriff Sinyan (Lillestrøm, Norway), Bun Sanneh (Génération Foot, Senegal)

Forwards: Modou Barrow (Denizlispor, Turkey), Assan Ceesay (FC Zürich, Switzerland), Bubacarr JOBE (Mjällby, Sweden), Ali Sowe (CSKA Sofia, Bulgaria), Bubacarr ‘Steve’ Trawally (Ajman, UAE), Adama Jammeh (Etoile du Sahel, Tunisia), Muhammed Badamosi (FUS Rabat, Morocco), Musa Barrow (Atalanta, Italy), Bakery Jatta (Hamburger SV, Germany), Nuha Marong Krubally (Racing Santander, Spain), Musa Jawara (FC Bologna, Italy), Kalifa Manneh (Carrarese, Italy), Lamin Jallow (Salernitana, Italy)

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