By: Kemo Kanyi
The Gambia Schools Football Association (GSFA) has officially announced the list of schools that have qualified for the 2025 National Inter-Schools Football Championship, following the successful completion of regional qualifiers across the country.
This year’s national championship will be held in Jarra Soma, with the Upper Basic Schools (UBS) category taking place from 9th to 14th September 2025, followed by the Senior Secondary Schools (SSS) competition from 15th to 20th September 2025.
Upper Basic Schools (UBS)
A total of 29 schools have qualified in the UBS category, featuring 16 boys’ teams and 13 girls’ teams drawn from all eight regions of The Gambia.
Notably, four schools will be represented in both the male and female categories; these included St. Vincent de Paul, Essau UBS, Pakalinding UBS, and Jiboroh UBS.
Senior Secondary Schools (SSS)
In the SSS division, 32 schools have earned qualification—16 boys’ teams and 16 girls’ teams, ensuring equal representation across both genders.
Nine schools will feature in both male and female categories. This include Charles Jow SSS, Scanaid SSS, Bottrop SSS, Mingdaw SSS, Farafenni SSS, Tahir SSS, Kwinella SSS, Panchang SSS, and Tumani Tenda SSS
The qualified schools represent a broad geographical spread, ensuring nationwide participation from Region One (Kanifing Municipality Zone) to Region Six (Upper River Region). The 2025 edition promises to be one of the most competitive and talent-filled tournaments in recent years, as young Gambian footballers showcase their skills on the national stage.
The Gambia Schools Football Association congratulated all the qualified schools and urged them to begin intensive preparations for what is expected to be an exciting and high-stakes championship.
“We congratulate all participating schools for their outstanding performances in the regional qualifiers and encourage them to prepare well. This year’s championship promises to raise the bar even higher,” the GSFA said in a statement.