Gambian international forward Baboucarr Steve Trawally has withdrawn from the national team ahead of their match with Tunisia.

Trawally said he ended his AFCON campaign due to injury he sustained prior to the tournament. 

“It’s with deep sadness I announce my withdrawal from national team duties with the Scorpions and from our AFCON camp in Cameroon.

“I joined the team with an injury that was 50/50 with the hope I’ll recover in time to help my country, The Gambia.

“But unfortunately, I haven’t gotten the best of treatments which warranted my Club, Ajman, to request from The Gambia Football Federation and national team officials to send me back so I could get proper treatment and to better prepare myself for future national team duties,” Trawally said.

“Of course, it’s been always my dream to don the Scorpions jersey at a big tournament like the AFCON and this was supposed to be it but sadly, man proposes and God disposes,” he added.

“I’ll be away from the team physically but spiritually I’m with them as have been since day one. I hope we can all focus on the team’s success and enjoy every moment there is. 

“I wish to seize this opportunity to ask every Gambian to rally behind my compatriots, give our full support and I pray that we’ll go up to the final. For The Gambia, our Homeland,” he continued.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba