By Seedy Jobe
Gambia Football Federation (GFF) presidential candidate Colonel Musa Jammeh on Tuesday launched his election manifesto, outlining an ambitious seven-pillar agenda that he said would build on more than a decade of institutional stability and position The Gambia as “West Africa’s model football nation.”
Speaking before football stakeholders, government officials, and federation executives, Jammeh presented his candidacy as one rooted in continuity rather than disruption, arguing that the next phase of Gambian football should strengthen the gains achieved under the current GFF leadership while pursuing broader reforms.
The manifesto launch was attended by GFF President Lamin Kabba Bajo, Trade Minister Mod K. Ceesay, security officials, and members of the GFF Executive Committee.
“This is more than the launch of a manifesto,” Jammeh told the gathering. “It is a defining moment in the history of Gambian football.”
Framing his campaign around institutional development, Jammeh introduced what he called the Chronicle of Leadership of the GFF, a governance reference document chronicling the contributions of successive federation presidents—from the late Alhaji O.B. Konateh and Seedy Kinteh to the current administration.
He credited the outgoing executive, led by Bajo, with restoring stability to Gambian football following years of FIFA intervention and normalization committees. Under the current leadership, he said, the federation had strengthened financial management, expanded grassroots infrastructure, professionalized its administration, advanced women’s football, and guided the national team to two Africa Cup of Nations appearances.
“Institutions endure when leadership places governance above personalities, accountability above convenience, and long-term national interest above short-term popularity,” Jammeh said.
He said his vision is to transform The Gambia into “West Africa’s model football nation through elite development, professional excellence, and inclusive growth.”
Jammeh’s manifesto is built around what he described as the principles of continuity, innovation, and transformation, with seven strategic pillars intended to drive the federation’s long-term development.
The agenda focuses on governance, integrity, and strategic partnerships; infrastructure, commercialization, and sustainable financing; elite performance, technical development, and player welfare; youth, grassroots, and women’s football; community decentralization and social impact; capacity building and institutional strengthening; and preserving the legacy of former football leaders while managing leadership transitions.
Among the reforms proposed are the public release of audited financial statements and annual reports, the establishment of an independent ethics committee, a compliance committee, and a monitoring and evaluation unit within Football House. Jammeh also pledged to accelerate the federation’s digital transformation and strengthen the role of regional football associations.
On relations with the government, Jammeh said he intends to deepen cooperation beyond support for the national teams, arguing that football infrastructure—including playing fields and training facilities—should become a shared national priority because of the sport’s role in youth development.
He also emphasized the importance of expanding the federation’s international partnerships, saying stronger engagement with FIFA, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and other global football bodies would help attract investment and development funding.
Jammeh introduced his campaign team as a diverse group of administrators, professionals and football stakeholders united by a commitment to integrity, competence and accountability. He stressed that the team was not aligned with any particular region or club but was focused on advancing the interests of Gambian football as a whole.
As delegates prepare to elect the federation’s next leadership, Jammeh urged them to weigh experience alongside vision and to embrace what he described as purposeful continuity rather than change for its own sake.
“Our campaign is not about personalities or division,” he said. “It is about preserving the institutional genes of the past while unlocking new opportunities for the future.”
He concluded by saying that Team Falconz believes the strength of a football nation is measured not only by its future ambitions but also by how it honors those who laid its foundation, pledging to preserve the legacy of Gambian football while preparing the next generation for greater success.
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