Savoy, who was widely reported to be the new coach of The Gambia national team, arrived in Banjul Monday night onboard Brussels Airlines.
The coach’s first international test will be the first leg of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers away to South Africa in June this year, as the Scorpions will be embarking on yet another attempt to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations.
News of the appointment of Savoy was leaked on the internet blogging site Nna-Gambia news, which reported his imminent arrival to take up the job.
On Sunday the GFF confirmed that Savoy was among the three shortlisted but the federation was economical with the details surrounding his appointment until the “right time comes”.
The appointment of a coach has been a long and loud demand by Gambian fans, who are keen on getting back to international official matches, after lifting of the global ban on the country last year.
Brief profile
Raoul Savoy, born 18 May 1973, is a Swiss football coach. He was the head coach of FC Sion till June 2014. He was also the head coach of the senior national team of the Central African Republic.
Holder of UEFA coaching Diplomas (UEFA - A Licence Scottish Football Association and Swiss FA), Raoul began his international career with Tonnerre Yaoundé in Cameroon from 2002 to 2003 and was runner-up of the 2002 CAF Cup.
He later spent six seasons in Morocco with COD Meknes and SCC Mohammédia and IR Tanger from 2003 to 2006.
He has also managed two senior national teams - Ethiopia (2006-2007) and Swaziland (2007-2008).
He returned to Morocco to manage MC Oujda for two seasons (2009-2011), and to Switzerlandto manage Neuchâtel Xamax (2011-2012) and FC Sion (2013-2014).
He was also in Algeria, for the first time, where he managed MC Oran in 2012 and MC El Eulma in 2013.
