By: Madi Senghore
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has granted provisional approval to The Gambia’s Independence Stadium to host CAF-sanctioned football matches, marking a significant milestone in the ongoing rehabilitation of the country’s main sporting facility.
The Ministry of Youth and Sports announced the development in a public notice dated 15 August 2026, describing the provisional approval as an important step towards restoring the stadium to international standards.
The ministry expressed appreciation to all stakeholders involved in the rehabilitation, remodelling and preparations for the facility, including the Ministry of Transport, Works and Infrastructure, the Gambia Football Federation, technical teams and contractors.
It also thanked the public for its patience, understanding and continued support throughout the rehabilitation process.
However, the approval is provisional and subject to further compliance requirements.
The ministry said it would continue working with CAF and the Gambia Football Federation to ensure that pre-match and match-day operations fully comply with CAF regulations in order to secure final approval.
The development is expected to boost Gambian football by paving the way for the return of international and CAF-sanctioned matches to Independence Stadium after the facility’s rehabilitation.