President Adama Barrow’s State House reception celebrating Arsenal’s 2025/26 Premier League title has sparked a wave of criticism online, with many Gambians questioning the timing of the event as the country continues to grapple with persistent electricity outages.

The celebration, attended by Cabinet ministers and members of the Arsenal Fans Club Gambia, was meant to honour the English club’s long-awaited league triumph. However, for many citizens, the optics have become the centre of controversy rather than the football achievement itself.

On social media platforms, critics argued that the presidency should have prioritised addressing the ongoing power crisis instead of hosting a celebratory gathering.

One Facebook user wrote: “People are sitting in darkness every night and State House is celebrating football. Where are our priorities as a nation?”

Another commented: “Nobody is against football, but leadership is about timing. This is not the moment for celebration when businesses are collapsing because of power cuts.”

A third user added: “Arsenal winning is good news, but Gambians are suffering. The President should feel the pulse of the people.”

However, not all reactions were negative. Some defended the President’s personal interest in football, saying the event should not be politicised.

One supporter noted: “The President is a human being too. Celebrating football does not stop government work. Let’s be fair.”

Despite the mixed reactions, the dominant sentiment online reflects frustration over the country’s electricity situation, which continues to affect households, businesses, and essential services across the Greater Banjul Area and beyond.

They said the backlash reflects a broader public mood in which symbolic state events are increasingly being measured against everyday economic hardship, particularly the ongoing energy challenges facing the country.

By Adama Makasuba