SANG NDONG SUMMONS KEBBA CEESAY

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By Sulayman Bah

Poland-based defender Kebba Ceesay has been summoned by national team gaffer Sang Ndong, Foroyaa Sport Kebba Ceesaycan report.

Gambia is due to face The Maurabitounes of Mauritania as the race for a spot to the African Cup of Nations 2017 championships heats up with Gabon as hosts.

The Scorpions are third in a group topped by Cameroon and resume their campaign against a stubborn Mauritanian side who are currently sitting second in the pool. Preparation for the clash –billed for March 25th – is at intense level as Sang Ndong makes do with local-based players ahead of unveiling his provisional roster.

But while the leaflet of invited players is yet to be made available to the local press back home, it is understood that Poland-based footballer Kebba Ceesay is one of first batch of players extended with an invitation for this month’s make or break battle.

His call-up to the Scorpions’ set up is of little surprise giving the erstwhile Djurgarden stopper has made the right-back role his since ending his self-imposed international exile last year.

The 28-year-old has featured twenty-one times this on-going season, seventeen from the starting line up.

Game’s venue

There were initial doubts over possibilities of the game being held in Mauritania amid wide spread media report that Stade Olympique de Nouakchott 40,000-seater is undergoing renovation. Senegal’s Stade Demba Diop was mooted to be the likely ground to host the first-leg game.

However a GFF spokesperson told Foroyaa Sport that the game’s venue has never been changed.

‘We’ve heard such rumours but they remain rumours as far as the federation is concerned. The match is March 25th Friday in Nouakchott and the return-leg four days later Tuesday March 29th,’ the spokesperson says.

The team –sure to include foreign-based players – is expected to camp March 20th before heading to Mauritania.

Meanwhile, the Scorpions have been handed a boost ahead of their must-win clash against Mauritania scaling a step above in the new FIFA rankings for this month.

Sang Ndong’s men are on one hundred and thirty-five (135) points, representing a one step move up the ladder sitting as the World’s 164th best footballing country. The global rankings is being led by Belgium on one thousand, five hundred and six (1,506) .points.

The mathematics is figured out based on teams’ performances in the qualifiers, tournament proper and involvement in international friendly matches.

Gambia has been inactive since getting jettisoned off the World Cup in the preliminary round stage by the Brave Warriors of Namibia.