Former Gambian International Mariama Bom Sowe has been appointed the head coach of the Gambia’s senior women’s team on an interim basis ahead of their double-legged Women’s Cup of Nations qualifier next month against Niger.

“The Gambia Football Federation (GFF) hereby announces the appointment of Mariama Sowe (Bom) as interim head coach of the Women’s Senior National Team for the 2026 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualifiers,” a GFF statement reads.

Mariama Bom Sowe who guided The Gambia to its first-ever bronze title at the WAFU-A Senior Women’s tournament played in Sal, Cape Verde, in 2023 has since started training with a 25-women provisional local squad at the National Technical Training Centre (NTTC) at Yundum.

Omar Cham, the gaffer of Gambian Dutch Lions, a men’s first-tier club in The Gambia will serve as the assistant coach of Bom Sowe.

The Gambia will lock horns with Niger at Niamey on 18 February for the first leg encounter before hosting their counterpart in Stade Lat Dior in Thies, Senegal for the important second leg. The winner between Niger and The Gambia will face either Kenya or Tunisia in the last round of the qualifiers.

By Ebrima KB Sonko