By: Madi Senghore
The Gambia national U-17 team has begun a screening exercise at the National Technical Training Centre (NTTC) in Old Yundum as preparations intensify for the CAF TotalEnergies U-17 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying tournament in Dakar, Senegal.
Head coach Yahya Manneh and his technical team are assessing 63 players in two phases as they seek to identify the best talents for the squad.
The first phase, involving 31 players, began on Monday, 10 August, and is scheduled to end on Tuesday, 11 August. The remaining 32 players will undergo screening from Wednesday, 12 August.
The exercise is allowing the technical team to assess the players’ technical abilities, physical fitness, tactical understanding and overall potential.
The screening forms part of the team’s preparations for the U-17 AFCON qualifiers, where the Gambian side will seek to assemble a competitive squad capable of challenging for qualification to the continental tournament.
The technical team is expected to use the outcome of the exercise to select players who will form the core of the national U-17 squad for the upcoming qualifiers.