The Gambia Karate Federation (GKF) national team and a strong contingent of technical officials will depart Banjul to represent the country at the 6th Edition of the Karate Championships of Western Africa 1, organised under the Union of African Karate Federations (UFAK) in Conakry, Guinea, from 17 to 23 August 2026.
The championship will bring together athletes and officials from across the Western Africa 1 zone, providing Gambian competitors with an important platform to gain regional exposure and test their skills against some of the region’s leading karate athletes.
The Gambian team will compete in both Kata and Kumite, combining emerging talent with experienced competitors. The athletes will be led by National Kumite Coach Mbaye Nyang, who will oversee their preparation, competition strategy and technical guidance throughout the championship.
In Male Kata, The Gambia will be represented by Edrisa Jallow in the Senior category and Alieu Conteh at Cadet level.
The Kumite team comprises Emmanuel Mendy, competing in the Senior Male 71kg category, and Fatou Nyang, competing in the Cadet Female 55kg category.
The participation of the Gambian delegation is being supported in part by the Gambia National Olympic Committee (GNOC).
GKF Vice President Muhammed Jagana said the championship provides an important opportunity for Gambian athletes to gain high-level regional exposure and further develop their competitive experience. He said the Federation hopes to build on the team’s recent performance at the Senegal Open, where Gambian athletes returned with an impressive haul of eight medals.
Alongside the athletes, the GKF will be represented by a team of technical officials led by Technical Director Sensei Pateh Jobe.
The Federation’s Referees’ Chairman, Sensei Eliman Njie, will lead the Gambian officiating contingent, comprising Sheikh Ceesay, Modou Faye, Muhammed Jabbie, Alfusainey Jaguraga, Khadim Khan and Serigne Lowe.
The participation of the officials is expected to provide an important opportunity for further professional development. In addition to performing their official duties during the championship, the referees are expected to undergo UFAK theoretical and practical examinations in both Kata and Kumite to assess their knowledge and application of regional and international officiating standards.
Technical Director Sensei Pateh Jobe said the participation of the officials is equally important to the development of Gambian karate. “We are not going to Conakry only to compete. Our officials are also going to learn, officiate and be assessed. The UFAK examinations will give our referees an opportunity to measure themselves against regional standards and identify areas where further development is needed,” Jobe said.
The Gambia Karate Federation says the Conakry championship represents more than a competitive outing, providing an opportunity to strengthen athlete development, improve officiating capacity and deepen The Gambia’s engagement within the regional karate community.
The Federation has wished the athletes, referees, coaches and officials a successful championship and urged the delegation to represent The Gambia with discipline, professionalism, determination and sportsmanship.
