FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - New England Revolution midfielder Sainey Nyassi could not watch The Gambia play in Liberia in a World Cup Qualifier last weekend.
Instead, he monitored the game over the internet. While he couldn't watch the 1-1 draw between his country and the Liberians, he couldn't help but feel connected to the match as he kept checking on the score. Revs teammate Kenny Mansally earned a call-up for the Scorpions but didn't get off the bench.
But as Nyassi monitored the game, a good result for the Gambians turned tragic after nine people suffocated in the rush to enter the Samuel K. Doe stadium in Monrovia.
Nyassi talked to Mansally as he waited to leave Liberia to return home and said that his first thought was for Mansally's safety.
"They always protect players," Nyassi said. "They bring lots of security for them. That was the first thing I asked Kenny. He said they were all safe."
While the players were safe inside the stadium, those who sought to enter the stadium were not. The 33,000-capacity stadium was overrun by people holding counterfeit tickets and overcrowding ensued. The nine casualties occurred at one specific gate in the stadium, according to a BBC Sport report.
Nyassi said the situation, although tragic, wasn't uncommon.
"It happens a lot because people in Africa are crazy about soccer," Nyassi said. "Some people forge tickets in order to get into the stadium. The stadiums are always overloaded anytime there's an international game like a World Cup qualifier or an African Nations Cup qualifier."
The Gambia hopes it can emerge from the difficult Group 6 first-round draw. Traditional African powers Algeria and Senegal are also in the four-team group, meaning that the team has a difficult task to qualify for the final round of qualifying. Only the group winner is assured of a place in the next stage, although the best eight runners-up from the 12 groups also advance to the next round.
Nyassi said he wants to play a part in the qualifying campaign, but noted that he was injured when newly-appointed Belgian coach Paul Put assembled his roster. Nyassi featured for his country at the FIFA U-20 World Cup last summer in Canada, paving the way for his move to New England last summer.
"I haven't heard from them, but I'm still listening and waiting on it," Nyassi said. "Hopefully, there are a few games left and I will be in the team."
Until Nyassi gets the call, Mansally remains New England's only representative in African World Cup qualifying after Kheli Dube missed out on a call-up for Zimbabwe's 0-0 draw with Guinea.
Nyassi hopes that Mansally will feature in The Gambia's home match with Senegal, scheduled for Sunday in Banjul. With a victory, the Gambians can claim top spot in the group with two of the six matches completed.
"Hopefully, they can go home and beat them," Nyassi said. "We still have the chance to qualify. Senegal won, so if we beat them, we can go to the top of the group."
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