The Gambia Football Federation has been strongly criticised for delay in upgrading the country’s only stadium.

The Gambia Independence Stadium has been ruled out by FIFA for hosting international footballing matches due to its substandard conditions. 

On Friday (9 June), the cabinet sub-committee on sports led by Sports minister Bakary Y Badjie visited the stadium to assess the efforts being made to upgrade the facilities to meet the standards set by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). 

Some of the infrastructure that are being upgraded includes seating arrangements, dressing rooms, medical facilities, and media areas.

However the slow progress of the work has caused anger among football fans who blamed the minister and GFF for the delay. 

“They will claim to spend 100% of the budget but only 30% will be spent on the project, the rest goes to their pockets. Sad Gambia, let them build us a new stadium. W can’t depend on one stadium,” one football fan said. 

“Bakary Badjie is a disgrace to the country i swear. All the noise from Mr Badjie about the stadium nearing completion is fake,” another said. 

“Useless federation let them give us something that we want – a new national stadium. It’s like the Gambia can’t even have a stadium that we build for ourselves. What a shame to GFF,” another added. 

“We definitely need a new stadium and many more sports facilities in order to improve our football,” yet another fan said. 

Reporting by Adama Makasuba