Nigeria won the continental trophy in 2013 by defeating Mali, Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso
Respected Gambian soccer official Bakary Papa Gassama has officially announced his retirement, bringing an end to an illustrious career that spanned nearly 20 years, Soccernet.ng reported.
One of Gambia’s most respected referees, Mr. Gassama has an impressive list of accomplishments, including officiating prestigious tournaments such as the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) and the FIFA World Cup Finals.
Gassama, 44, made a name for himself in refereeing after joining FIFA’s elite committee in 2007.
He started his career in Gambia’s domestic soccer league and quickly rose to oversee regional tournaments in Africa. He has been an integral player in his last three FIFA World Cups held in Brazil, Russia and Qatar.
His unique style and confident mastery of the game have cemented Gassama’s reputation as a respected figure on the African continent.
Following Gassama’s resignation, the Gambia Football Association praised the referee’s outstanding career. The association states:
“At the end of Gassama’s international career, he left behind a legacy of integrity and professionalism. His decision to step down was based on his determination to pave the way for young referees to shine on the world stage. “
Nigeria have faced Gassama several times during his illustrious career, most memorably in the semi-finals of the 2013 African Cup of Nations.
Gassama was the central referee when the Super Eagles defeated Mali 4-1 to advance to the tournament finals.
Gambia officials showed Efe Ambrose the first yellow card of the match one minute after defender Elderson Ethiejire gave Nigeria the lead.
This was the only yellow card Nigeria received, Mali received three. The Eagles had a fun night with goals from Brown Ideye, Emmanuel Emenike and Ahmed Musa.
Interestingly, the Super Eagles have not won in the semi-finals since this encounter, losing to Algeria in the semi-finals at AFCON 2019.
