"We have done our homework" - Gambia in high spirits ahead of pivotal clash with Harambee Starlets

The Gambia women’s football national team assistant coach Omar Cham says his team could not be readier for the final round of 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) Qualifiers against Kenya, scheduled for Friday 24 and Tuesday, 28 October respectively.

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Cham, speaking after the team’s final training session in Gambia at the Serrekunda East Mini Stadium, said the Queen Scorpions had left no stone unturned in making sure they make history by qualifying for WAFCON for the first time.

The team, led by head coach Mariama Sowe, left for Kenya via Lome late Wednesday afternoon, in readiness for the double fixtures that begin at Nairobi’s Nyayo National Stadium on Friday (1600 EAT), before moving on to neutral Stade Lat Dior in Thiès, Senegal on Tuesday.

“Our preparation has gone very fine, and the girls are ready,” Cham told GFF Media on Tuesday, 21 October. “We just finished our training session, and the quality and readiness in our team is really amazing.”

The Queen Scorpions, who boast of Sevilla forward Fatoumata I. Kanteh Cham as part of their final 23-player squad, are drawing much of their belief from the fact that they have been engaged in training camp for over two months, a set-up Cham believes has given them room to do all their homework.

Sevilla forward part of The Gambia squad for WAFCON qualifiers against Harambee Starlets

Thanking the Gambian Football Federation (GFF) for their early preparation, Cham said: “We started our training in August (18 August at Ousman Saho in Old Yundum) till now. We have done our homework against Kenya - we know how to approach the game tactically, and I believe we will carry the day."

With Gambia placed 16 places above Kenya in the FIFA rankings, Cham said that is not affecting their preparation.

Kenyans asked to turn up 'like they did for boys' as Harambee Starlets host Gambia in WAFCON Qualifier

“No pressure, we are highly relaxed,” he said. “On paper we are higher ranked than Kenya, but we believe in our performance. We beat Niger, a very strong team home and away in the last round, which is very impressive, but nevertheless, there is room for improvement.”

With the men’s side already making waves around the continent, Cham spoke of the significance of the team sailing through to next year’s WAFCON saying: “This qualifier is very important to us - we want to write history, we want to make history, and make the entire nation proud. The men have made history, us doing something similar will be remarkable.”