Following doubts as to whether the West Africa Football Union Championship will go as planned, due to several delays, the female national team comprising 18 players is expected to travel to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to take part in their first-ever international competition since its establishment some years ago.
The Gambia's only female team that secured a historic 6-nil win over a regional selection in Ziguinchor, Casamance a few months ago, headed by Buba Jallow is scheduled to camp at the National Technical Training Centre in Yundum on December 1st before proceeding to Nigeria 14 days later for the WAFU championship, slated for December 18th next month.
This was revealed to our reporter by the Head Coach of the team Buba Jallow shortly after leading the determined female side to another training session at the country's biggest football arena yesterday afternoon.
"We are expected to leave the country on 15th December ahead of our Group A opener against Guinea Conakry on 18," Buba told Pointsport.
But the intensity of the challenges that is currently facing the country's sole representative in the continental championship like the lack of support from the Gambian people and the companies at large are the two main problems the team is looking forward to overcome before the competition kicks-off.
"GFA in my own point of view alone cannot run the affairs of the sports in the country. It is a collective responsibility for every Gambian to see to it that female football is given as much support as needed to ensure that they perform better, hence it is the country's only representative in continental competition following the shock and early exist of The Gambia national U-17 team in FIFA U-17 World Cup in Nigeria," he stated.
He added that "I believe the female national team deserves the support of the Gambian people, given the fact that if they achieve success or any meaningful results in Nigeria, the credit will not only be given to the players alone but the entire Gambian football fraternity at large."
Their 6-nil romping of Ziguinchor selection a few months ago was a clear indication of their readiness to raise the Gambian flag higher heights, but that success can only be achieved if they are given the necessary support to ensure their successful participation in next month's WAFU Female Football Championship, to be sponsored by the First Lady of Nigeria.
The Gambia is pitted in Group A alongside Senegal, Guinea Conakry and the host Nigeria.
Group B consists of Ghana, Sierra Leone, Mali and Tanzania.
They will open their campaign with a game against Guinea Conakry on December 18th and the next game against the neighbouring Senegal on 20th before playing their last group game in a titanic battle when they lock horns with the host Nigeria on 22 December.