In pursuit to grab its first-ever ticket to any continental competition at senior level, the Scorpions are set to take on Algeria on Wednesday.
The Banjul home game, which will mark the opening of the Gambia Scorpions first round qualifying games for the African Cup of Nations 2013, has seen a host of players already moving to camp since Friday.
Camp at Seaview Hotel
Twenty-four players are expected to be in camp at the Seaview Hotel under team coach Bonu Johnson.
In camp as at now there are foreign-based players Mustapha Jarju, Abdou Jammeh, Njogu Demba, Saikou Gassama, Momodou Futty Danso, Ken Abdoulie Mansally, Sanna Nyassi, Ebrima Sohna, Aziz Corr, Demba Savage, Omar Jawo and Kebba Ceesay.
The local-based players are goalkeepers Alagie Nyabally, Musa Camara and Alagie Jobe.
Others in camp are Mamut Saine, Assan Ceesay, Baboucarr Savage, Emmanuel Gomez and Momodu Lamin Gibba.
Others expected to join the team
Bakary Terema Dahaba, administrator of the senior national team of The Gambia, who is also charged with the affairs of overseeing the GFA FIFA goal project in Yundum, said players like Ousman Jallow, Momodou Ceesay, Pa Modou Jagne are expected in camp.
Pa Saikou Kujabi, who is currently one of the most impressive players at Scottish club Hibernian, will not be attending Wednesday’s game. Sixteen foreign-based players were invited for The Gambia’s crucial game.
Absentees
Earlier reports have indicated that The Gambia is facing several absentees in the team ahead of their game against the Fennecs of Algeria.
Veteran goalkeeper Pa Dembo Touray, who recently signed for Santos Cape Town in South Africa, has asked to be excluded from the 2013 Orange AFCON qualifiers in order to ease his integration into his new club.
Abdourahman Dampha also made the same plea having also changed club, leaving Swiss club Neuchâtel Xamax for a Croatian team.
Defender Lamin Samateh, who plays for Lokomotive of Zagreb in Serbia, is still recovering from injury.
Sainey Nyassi, who plays for New England Revolution in the US championship, has to make a choice between the Gambian national team and that of the United States.
The midfielder, who played the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup for Gambia, is now eligible to play for USA for whom he has just been accorded resident status.