By Arfang M.S. Camara
Players of The Gambia and staff have all tested negative for Covid-19 ahead of their quarterfinals game against the host Cameroon tomorrow.
Scorpions of the Gambia will clash Cameroon in the first quarterfinals encounter of the Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday at the Stade de Japoma at 4pm.
According to the Gambia Football Federation (GFF), all 27 players and staff of Team Gambia tested negative and thus everyone is available for the biggest match in Gambian football.
The Federation added that Team Gambia did their pre-match covid-19 tests Thursday morning at the Team’s Best Western Plus Hotel in Douala.
As part of preparations ahead of the quarterfinal encounter, the Gambian technical department said that all the players are fit, well and prepared for the Cameroon game tomorrow.
Speaking in an interview the Gambia’s Coach Tom Saintfeit said they are ready for the game against Cameroon, noting that they have few players who are sick due to the meals they had in the last hotel before Guinea Conakry game.
“We still have two days before facing Cameroon and we hope they will return to the group. We have three players with injuries that are uncertain. The atmosphere is good. We did the Covid tests and all the players are negative for the third time. We have nothing to lose against Cameroon. Playing the quarter-finals here against a fantastic country, a strong team. Cameroon are favorites but we are here to have fun and get a good result,” he said.
He continued: “I hope all the small football nations in Africa will support The Gambia. We need everyone’s support even though I know that the Cameroonians will be behind their team. It would be an extraordinary and magical story to qualify for the semi-finals. It’s almost impossible, but we believe in it,” he concluded.