‘It’s a big, crazy experience’ – Gambia goalie Gaye says after Afcon debut

Gambia made their first-ever appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon this year, and as debutants they produced a surprising run to reach the quarterfinals.

The Scorpions goalkeeper Baboucarr Gaye, speaking exclusively with Omasports following their 2-0 defeat by Cameroon in the quarterfinals, says ‘it’s a big, crazy experience’ and added that he’s pleased with how he performed.

“It’s a big, crazy experience,” the 23-year-old goalkeeper said. “I don’t think I can process it right now. The reactions everywhere are just unreal. I came here after the Covid, I didn’t even know if I’ll get a chance to play. But I got the chance and performed pretty well.”

Gaye conceded just once in three group stage games, kept a clean sheet in the last-16 before falling to Cameroon in the last eight.

Meanwhile, at club level, he turns out for Koblenz in the Regionalliga Sudwest in Germany, where he’s made 18 appearances so far this season. That is in stark contrast to previous seasons, where appearances were few and far between. Gaye says he’s happy with how things are going at club level and owes it all to patience.

“It’s all about patience. At Koblenz, I’m getting the play time that I’ve been looking for in the past two/three four years and I’m very happy I got that opportunity there. And I’m very happy I got the opportunity here [Afcon] on the big stage to perform, to prove what I can do.

“It’s just really a blessing,” he said.