By Alieu Ceesay
Gambia and Africa’s best referee Bakary Papa Gassama has been nominated again for the Caf referee of the year award.
Gassama, who won the award in the past three editions, is nominated alongside Bamlak Tessema (Ethiopia), Ghead Grisha (Egypt), Janny Sikazwe (Zambia), Malang Diedhiou (Senegal) and Mehdi Abid Charef (Algeria).
The 38-year-old, expected to win this year’s award too has been chosen together with the quintet, to officiate at next year’s FIFA World Cup in Russia.
The Referee of the Year Award will be chosen by only members of the Caf Referees’ Committee with the winner to be announced at a gala in Accra, Ghana on Thursday, 4 January 2018.
Speaking in an interview from Abu Dhabi where he is currently attending a five-day Fifa course for 2018 World Cup referee Gassama said the honour is not just for him alone but every Gambian.
“Being nominated alone is enough and every Gambian should be proud of this,” Gassama reacted.
He said he is also excited to be selected for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
