The first contingent of the Gambia professional players  jetted into the country on Sunday with the SN Brussel flight  ahead of Gambia’s home match against Liberia in the 2010 combined World Cup and African Nations Cup qualifier campaign.

Observer Sports has gathered that the Holland-based striker, Ebou Sillah; Mustapha Jarju of RAEC Mons; Ebrima Sawaneh of KVK; Matthew Mendy of FC Voecklabruck; Pa Modou Jagne, Ebrima Sohna and goalkeeper Musa Bajaha have all arrived to join their Belgian coach, Paul Put, for the September 6 “must-win” encounter at the Independence Stadium.

Aziz Corr Nyan and Lamin Conateh, both playing in Sweden; English export, Omar Koroma; and Cherno Samba were also expected to arrive last evening. Finland based midfielder, Dawda Bah and The Gambia’s sole export to Russia, Abdou Jammeh, are also expected to arrive in the next 24 hours.

No automatic place
Coach Paul Put told Observer Sports that he has extended invitations to almost 20 players noting that no player should expect an automatic place in his squad.

“The players will have to prove to me on the training ground that they deserve a place because there is no fixed shirt for any player,” he said.

The Scorpions need Saturday’s match against the Lone Star as much as they need the final qualifier tie against the Terenga Lions of Senegal in their quest for a place in the 2010 finals.

The Gambia currently lie third with 5 points in Group 6, which is led by Senegal with 8 points. Algeria are second with 6 points, while Liberia, whose dream of qualification is all but over, lie at the bottom with only 2 points.