The Gambia Football Federation (GFF) has observed with deep concern a press release issued today by the Ministry of Youth & Sports (MOYS). In the said release, the Ministry claimed that our earlier announcement scheduling international friendly matches at the Independence Stadium was “premature” and made “without the prior approval of the competent authorities.”
The GFF wishes to clarify the facts and expose the unfortunate ironies surrounding this matter to the public. The GFF has always maintained a professional, formal channel of communication with the Ministry, which is routed through the National Sports Council (NSC). On this specific subject of the Independence Stadium’s availability, the GFF formally engaged the NSC as usual.
Sequel to informal discussions, where the GFF was assured of the availability of the stadium for the June FIFA Window, the Federation made a follow-up to the matter with a letter addressed to the NSC in April.
In a written reply to the GFF dated 14th May, 2026, signed by the NSC’s Acting Executive Director, the Council explicitly informed us that the Independence Stadium was already committed to hosting the maiden edition of the African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Games from the 7th to the 13th of June, 2026.
Crucially, the NSC’s letter went on to state, and we quote: “The stadium facility can be made available to you for the proposed matches before June 7 or after the 13 June, 2026.”
It was strictly on this formal, documented clearance that the GFF scheduled our international friendly match against Sierra Leone for June 6, 2026—this being the final available date before the AUSC event, as the FIFA international window would’ve closed by the 13th of June.
Therefore, the claim by the Ministry that the GFF acted “prematurely” or “without approval” is not only misleading, but it completely contradicts the official, written directives of their own competent authority on the ground, the National Sports Council.
The public should be further informed of a separate meeting where the General Secretary of the GFF met with the Permanent Secretary of MOYS on an unrelated agenda. It was during this impromptu exchange that the Permanent Secretary verbally informed us that the June 6 match could no longer take place because the Stadium “was not ready.” This completely shifts the narrative from “no prior approval” to “structural unreadiness”—a clear inconsistency in the Ministry’s positioning.
The GFF remains committed to Gambian football and wishes to assure the public that we acted with full due diligence, respect for authority, and entirely within the official parameters laid down by the Ministry. We hope that we can resolve the Stadium’s readiness issue in the interest of the national team, the young athletes, and fans of our beloved nation before the resumption of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers in September 2026.

By GFF