Delegates attending the ongoing Gambia Football Federation (GFF) Annual General Meeting have raised serious concerns after the release of financial figures showing a dramatic rise in the Federation’s liabilities ahead of President Kaba Bajo’s expected departure next year.

According to the 2024 financial report, GFF’s total debt has surged to GMD 136.7 million, more than double the GMD 67.4 million recorded in 2023.

The most alarming increase is in unpaid obligations to suppliers and other creditors, which climbed sharply from GMD 2.6 million to GMD 65.5 million within just one year.

Outstanding loans also rose from GMD 57.4 million in 2023 to GMD 64.9 million in 2024, while bank overdrafts saw a marginal decline, dropping to GMD 6.3 million.

Crucially, the report confirms that some of the Federation’s most valuable assets, including the Football House and facilities under the FIFA Goal Project, have been pledged as collateral for bank borrowing. This exposes the GFF to the risk of losing these assets should it default on loan repayments.

Financial analysts at the AGM cautioned that the steep growth in unpaid bills signals potential cash-flow challenges, which could disrupt daily operations and strain relationships with service providers.

Delegates are now calling for greater financial clarity and safeguards to protect the Federation’s assets as leadership transition approaches.

By Ebrima KB Sonko