SuperSport.com can reveal that strikers, Ali Sowe and Assan Ceesay, are the Gambian duo at present on trials at top Nigeria Premier League side, Enugu Rangers.
Officials of the Enugu-based NPL club had refused to reveal the identities of both players and kept them away from the media since their arrival earlier this week.
The young strikers with impressive goal scoring records at their Gambian side, Gamtel, have already make debuts for Gambia’s domestic national team. Sowe was part of Gambia’s squad for the Afcon
qualifiers last year, while Ceesay progressed through the Under17 and Under23 teams.
SuperSport.com learnt they will spend 11 days to convince Rangers gaffer, Okey Emordi, who is in search of quality strikers to boost his squad this term for domestic assignments.
Both players were spotted by Rangers during the 2011 edition of the Wafu Cup in Lome, Togo, where the duo helped Gamtel, to the final of the sub-regional competition, but lost to Togolese side, Dyto.
The duo were on duty last Friday when Gamtel played a goalless draw against Gambian champions, Brikama United, in the first game of the Gambian League One.
Ceesay scored the opener during the Gambian Super Cup against Brikama earlier in the year.
The match ended in a 1-1 draw, but the Telecommunications Boys eventually emerged victorious via penalties. Ceesay’s teammate, Sowe, was also part of the victory party for Gamtel.
If the deal to sign the duo goes through, “The Flying Antelopes” will have the largest foreign contingent in the NPL following their
acquisition of Togolese goalkeeper, Mensah N’Souhoho and Ivorian striker, Konan Boris.
However, they will have to contend for places in the Rangers' attack with top stars like former Gateway forward, Rasaq Adegbite, Ivorian import, Boris, Chikeluba Ofoedu and Igwe Igbokwe.
Emordi is likely to leave Ifeanyi Egwim out of his plans since the striker wants a ‘divorce’ to enable him join champions, Dolphins.
Adegbite, who is making his Premier League debut at Rangers, has turned out to be the most consistent striker in Emordi’s two-man forward line.
The club’s leading scorer with two goals was paired with Ivorian import Boris in the first match against Wolves, while Chikeluba Ofoedu was his partner against Kaduna United and Wikki respectively.
NPL Scribe, Tunji Babalola told SuperSport.com that the transfer window is still open to accommodate the Gambian duo.
“Their availability is subject to the release of their International Transfer Certificate. The Nigeria Football Federation
will inform the NPL as soon as their ITC is ready. That is the only condition that will make us register them for Rangers,” Babalola said to SuperSport.com.
Sowe and Ceesay have already entered the history books as the first set of Gambians to be linked to a Nigerian team.
Over the years, the Nigerian league has served as a platform for players from the West African sub-region to hit limelight.
Ali Sowe Profile
Name: Ali Sowe
Position: Striker
Club: Gamtel (Telecommunication Boys)
Former Club: Serrekunda United (Second Division)
Honours: 2011 Wafu Cup Silver, 2011 Gambian FA Cup, 2012 Gambian Super Cup
International Career: Senior team (Scorpions)
Assan Ceesay Profile
Name: Assan Ceesay
Nickname: Torres
Position: Striker
Club: Gamtel (Telecommunication Boys) Honours: 2011 Wafu Cup Silver, 2011 Gambian FA Cup, 2012 Gambian Super Cup
International Career: Under17 and Under23
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