By Arfang M.S Camara
In their quest to increase the number of women’s division one and two teams to 14 and 16 by the year 2025, Gambia Football Federation (GFF) 2022/23 season will see the number of participating teams in the top flight increase from eight to 10 and 10 to 12 respectively.
After the completion of the current season, Red Scorpions won the national championship while Immigration and Brikama United were relegated to the second division.
Their places in the top flight are taken over by the second division league champions Jeshwang United and Koita who finished second. Also joining them are Future Bi and Raptim who secured playoff wins over 6th and 4th place teams this week.
Foni Girls and Young Icons FC are also relegated to their respective third division leagues. They will be replaced by six teams for the upcoming season.
Two champions from the Greater Banjul Area as well as the women’s league champions of each of the four provincial regions of The Gambia, will have automatic spots in the national second division league for the coming season.
This is part of the current GFF leader’s drive in creating a beneficial environment that enables women to participate in all areas of football development, be it a coach or an administrator, a player or referee as well as in leadership roles.
“This is a very critical component of the federation’s women’s football development agenda and would thus play an important role in helping us to deliver on our National Football Development Plan 2022-2026,” said the GFF
FIFA Women’s Football Expert Thuba Sibanda recently put it: “women’s football in The Gambia continues to rise, changing narratives, challenging cultural barriers and empowering girls and women nationwide.”