The Gambia national football team, the Scorpions, are in the Moroccan city of Marrakech for international friendly matches.

The Scorpions will take on the Syli National of Guinea Conakry on Friday June 7 and the Atlas Lions of Morocco on Wednesday June 12.

The Gambian football team is made up of both local and international players.

However, some key players of the national team are absent.

Speaking to Gambia Radio from Marrakech on Thursday, Baboucarr Camara, director of communication of Gambia Football Federation said some players didn’t respond to the invitation sent to them.

 “I don’t want to talk about those players but the players here are in high preparations for tomorrow’s game,” Mr Camara said.

Meanwhile, big names such as Baboucarr Steve Trawally, Modou Barrow Secka and Hamza Barry are all absent for the friendly football games.

But the reasons for their absence are still unclear for fans of the national team.

The Gambia’s friendly football matches come few weeks before the Africa Cup of Nations which kicks off in Egypt on June 21.   

Twenty-four African teams are expected to contest for the tournament including Morocco and Guinea.  The Gambia which has never qualified for the tournament, missed out after defeat to Algeria.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba