By Haddy Touray
Newly elected Gambia Football Federation (GFF) President Kemo Ceesay has called on his two election rivals to join his administration, saying Saturday’s election should mark the beginning of unity rather than deepen divisions within Gambian football.
Speaking shortly after his victory at the GFF presidential election held at Paradise Suites Hotel on Saturday, 29 August, Ceesay appealed to Sadibou Kamaso and Musa Jammeh to put the campaign behind them and work with his administration.
“There is no loser in this election,” Ceesay said, describing the contest as a historic moment for Gambian football.
“I cannot do it alone,” he added. “I want total unification, please. From Monday, anytime we start work, I want to get all of you on board.”
Ceesay acknowledged the experience and contributions of both opponents. Kamaso is a longstanding football stakeholder who challenged outgoing GFF President Lamin Kabba Bajo in the federation’s 2022 election, while Jammeh has served on the GFF Executive Committee and is also a club owner.
The newly elected president said the three camps entered the election with different manifestos but shared many of the same ambitions for Gambian football.
He urged the rival camps to combine their ideas, set aside their differences and focus on developing the sport.
His call for reconciliation extended beyond his two opponents, with Ceesay appealing for broader unity among football stakeholders following what he described as a fiercely contested campaign.
He also thanked outgoing GFF President Lamin Kabba Bajo for what he described as 12 years of stability at the federation.
Reflecting on his involvement in football administration since joining the then-Gambia Football Association in 2002, Ceesay recalled periods of turbulent leadership transitions marked by impeachments, interim administrations and normalisation committees.
He credited Bajo’s tenure with breaking that cycle and providing greater continuity to the federation, while also acknowledging the government’s role in supporting football during that period.
Ceesay thanked regional football associations, clubs and allied organisations that supported his candidacy during the seven-month campaign.
He also praised his campaign team, singling out Bakary Jammeh for leading what he described as a well-organised campaign.
In a personal tribute, Ceesay thanked Ousman Chaw Drammeh for his loyalty, saying Drammeh had arrived at the congress with a resignation letter after pledging to step down if Ceesay lost the election.
Ceesay said the campaign was now over and that his administration would ultimately be judged by its performance rather than its promises.
He pointed to the manifesto unveiled by his team on 20 June, saying delegates who entrusted them with the leadership of Gambian football would expect the commitments to be fulfilled.
Ceesay also stressed the GFF’s dependence on international football institutions, saying about 80 percent of the federation’s revenue comes from FIFA.
He appealed for continued support from FIFA, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the West African Football Union (WAFU) as his administration seeks to advance Gambian football.
“We have a message for the stakeholders of Gambian football,” Ceesay said. “And that is unification.”