Gambian forward, Mustapha Carayol, is set to make his first ever appearance for the Scorpions of The Gambia in a World Cup qualifier against the Elephants of Ivory Coast on June 8th in Banjul, Observer Sports can report. The forward, who plays with the Riverside-based outfit, Middlesbrough, in the English NPower Championship, was included in a 16-man squad that will face the Elephants. The same team will also play in the penultimate round of qualifiers away to Morocco a week later on June the 15th.
The 24-year-old Carayol, born in Banjul, is a cousin to former England youth team player Cherno Samba and grandson of the current chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission, Alhaji Mustapha Carayol.
Carayol began his career as a youth player with Swindon Town and when Paul Ince moved from Swindon to become manager of Macclesfield Town in 2006 he took Carayol with him as a trainee. At the time he was quoted as saying "I'm happy to clean the whole first team's boots all season for this opportunity".
When Ince became manager of Milton Keynes Dons in 2007, he signed Carayol again, offering him his first professional contract. He made his first team debut for MK Dons against Sheffield United in the League Cup in August 2007 and went on to appear in one further cup game. In October 2007 he joined Crawley Town on loan to gain further first team experience. In July 2008, he was signed by Torquay United but joined Kettering Town in September of that year on a three month emergency loan deal.
Carayol turned down a new contract at Torquay at the end of the 2009-10 season. In May 2010 it was announced that Lincoln City had agreed terms with the player although a fee would have to be set to determine how much compensation Lincoln City must pay Torquay due to Carayol being under the age of 24. In August it was announced that a deal had been struck between the two clubs with Lincoln paying £35,000 over staged payments plus other clauses.
In May 2011 he was made available for transfer by the club after a mass clear out of players following relegation from the Football League. Bristol Rovers signed Carayol for an undisclosed fee, on a two-year deal. His performances in League 2 attracted the attention of Championship club Barnsley who had a bid turned down for him in January. In May 2012, Bristol Rovers confirmed they had turned down a 6 figure bid from an unnamed Championship club for Carayol and had opened talks with him about extending his contract.
Carayol signed for Middlesbrough on a three-year deal on 1 August 2012, for an undisclosed fee, making his debut in a 2-1 win at Bury. After missing the start of Middlesbrough's league campaign, Carayol returned in the second round of the League Cup against Gillingham on 28 August 2012, in which he scored his first goal for the club. He scored his first league goal for Middlesbrough on 15 September 2012, against Ipswich Town on his home debut, scoring in stoppage time in a 2-0 victory. On 16th April, Carayol scored in a 1-0 home win over Nottingham Forest. Since joining Middlesbrough Carayol has become affectionately known as Muzzy.
He has been invited on several occasions to play for the Gambia national team in the past, but has never shown a desire to feature for the Scorpions. But there are strong indications that the skillful forward, who is known amongst colleagues as Muzzy, will now feature for the Gambia. Though the technicians wouldn't entirely confirm his availability for the game, the player has asked the Gambian authorities to send the invitation to his club, Boro, a clear indication that he is interested to put on the Red and Blue of The Gambia come the 8th of June, at the Independence Stadium in Bakau.
Another player who will be available for selection is Lamin 'Basmen' Samateh, who has been a key figure helping his Croatian premier league side, NK Lokomotiva Zagreb, finish second on the league and qualify for the Europa League next season. The former Steve Biko player played the whole game in the Scorpions defeat in the Ivorian Capital. Another player who played in the 3-0 defeat was Ebrima Sohna and will again be available for selection. Sohna plays for FC Vostok in the Kazakhstan Premier League.
Omar Colley has established himself as one of the favourites at Finnish Veikkausliiga (premier league) side KuPS, and has also received his first call-up since turning professional. The former Banjul Wallidan and Real de Banjul left-back played eight of the club's nine league games so far this season, scoring twice.
FC Kairat Almaty forward, Momodou Ceesay, is another player who has been invited for the game and following a disappointing showing in Abidjan, the Kazakhstan based striker will be hoping to make amends at home. Ceesay since his move to Kairat, has been a revelation so far this season scoring six goals in twelve games so far. Demba Savage who currently ranks joint third on the Finnish scoring chart is another player who will be making a comeback for the game. Savage, a Championship winner with HJK Helsinki missed the reverse fixture.
Captain Mustapha Toubabo Jarju will be among three notable returnees for this crucial game together with Pa Dembo Touray and Ebrima Sawaneh. Though the Scorpions chances of an appearance at the Brazil World Cup in 2014 is all but over, after the defeat in Abidjan, as they currently rank bottom of this four-team group with only a solitary point from three games, it is important to finish as high as they can, with qualification for the 2015 Nations Cup in Libya around the corner. Finishing at the bottom of the group means Mancini's team will have to play a double legged preliminary affair in order to make the group stage of that qualifiers.
Sanna Nyassi, who plays with the Montreal Impact in the Major League Soccer, is again invited but his twin brother, Sainey Nyassi, has again failed to make the cut. Sainey recently signed a contract with DC United and his return to competitive action will be a welcome boost for the Scorpions ahead of the final game of this qualifiers against Tanzania and in the 2015 qualifiers, following an ill-fated injury spell on the sidelines.
Former Gamtel and Serekunda United forward Ali Sowe, who recently made his debut for Italian Serie A (premier league) side Chievo Verona, has also been called up for both games together with Abdoulie Mansally and Saloum Faal. Macoumba Kandji who plays in the Greek second tier has also been invited and is inline for his first appearance with the Scorpions.
New FC Sion signing, Pa Modou Jagne, who has been one of the permanent fixtures for the Scorpions since his elevation to the senior national team in 2008, has again made the cut. Mamadou 'Futty' Danso of the Portland Timbers in the United States' Major League Soccer is also invited. Clubless Abdou Jammeh, who captained the side in Ivory Coast misses out this time together with Yankuba 'Mal' Ceesay.
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