By: Madi Senghore
The Gambia could know the fate of the Independence Stadium within the next two weeks, Sports Minister Bakary Y. Badjie has said.
The minister’s statement has renewed hopes that the country’s main sporting facility could soon regain approval to host international football matches.
The Independence Stadium has been barred by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) from hosting international fixtures, forcing the Gambia’s national team, the Scorpions, to play their home matches at venues outside the country.
The CAF decision has deprived Gambian football supporters of the opportunity to watch the national team compete on home soil.
Minister Badjie’s latest comments come as authorities await the outcome of the assessment of the stadium and any decision on whether it has met the required standards.
A lifting of the ban would allow the Scorpions to resume playing international matches in front of their home supporters at the Independence Stadium.