By Makutu Manneh
The youth and sports minister, Bakary Y. Badjie, said he was confident that The Gambia would be able to host its next African Cup of Nations qualifying matches on home soil, expressing optimism that ongoing efforts to meet continental stadium requirements would be completed in time.
“We are very certain that our AFCON qualifier matches will be played in the country,” Mr. Badjie said in a recent interview on the Verified podcast.
Qualifying matches for the Africa Cup of Nations are expected to begin in September, and stadiums must be approved at least two months in advance by the Confederation of African Football. Mr. Badjie said the government is aiming to invite inspectors in May, with a final decision anticipated by mid-July.
“Whatever the case may be, they should be able to do a final approval in mid-July to allow us to play here in September,” he said.
For years, The Gambia has been unable to host competitive international matches due to stadium deficiencies, forcing the national team to play home fixtures abroad—a situation that has drawn frustration from fans and officials alike.
Mr. Badjie suggested that the challenge extends beyond The Gambia, noting that more than two dozen African countries still lack stadiums that meet CAF standards. The primary obstacle, he said, is financial.
“Stadium infrastructure and the requirements that CAF is putting in place are so difficult to meet,” he said, adding that construction costs can range from $25 million to $40 million.
Those financial constraints have left many nations struggling to upgrade or build facilities that comply with evolving regulations, even as governing bodies push for higher standards across the continent.
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