Mansally earns another call-up

While the New England Revolution is in the midst of a rare break in the schedule, thanks in part to Hurricane Irene, one player who won’t be getting much rest is 22-year-old forward Kenny Mansally. The speedy attacker was called up by Gambia for a crucial Africa Cup of Nations 2012 Qualifier away to Namibia on September 4th.

Kenny Mansally seeks his seventh cap for Gambia on Sunday. (Photo by CHRIS ADUAMA/aduama.com)

Mansally will be joined on Gambia’s squad by fellow MLS players Sanna Nyassi (Colorado Rapids) and Mustapha Jarju (Vancouver Whitecaps). Revolution teammate Sainey Nyassi, Sanna’s twin brother, is unavailable while recovering from a right MCL Sprain.

The match is of vital importance to Gambia, who with a win could still be in contention for first place in Group F of qualifying. Even should Gambia fail to claim first in the group, they could still have a chance at qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations if they have one of the two best second-place records among the eleven groups. A loss, however, all but ends Gambia’s chances of reaching the finals of the competition to decide Africa’s champion.

Gambia was thrown a curveball in qualifying when Mauritania withdrew from the group for financial reasons before qualifying began, leaving Group F as the only section with less than four teams. Meanwhile, group leaders Burkina Faso are facing an investigation after Namibia complained they fielded an ineligible player. Should the claims prove true, Burkina Faso will forfeit their two matches against Namibia. Regardless of how that case is decided, Gambia face what should be considered a must win on Sunday, September 4th.

In total, 51 MLS players were called up to international duty this week. The complete list follows:

CANADA (vs. St. Lucia, Sept. 2; at Puerto Rico, Sept. 6)

• ·         Ante Jazic (CHV); Dwayne De Rosario, Dejan Jakovic (DC); André Hainault (HOU); Will Johnson (RSL); Julian de Guzman, Terry Dunfield (TOR)

COSTA RICA (at USA, on Sept. 2; at Ecuador, Sept. 6)

• ·         Michael Umaña (CHV); Roy Miller (NY); Rodney Wallace (POR); Alvaro Saborio (RSL)

CURACAO (vs. Antigua & Barbuda, Sept. 2; vs. Haiti, Sept. 6)

• ·         Javier Martina (TOR)

EL SALVADOR (vs. Dominican Republic, Sept. 2; at Cayman Islands, Sept. 6)

• ·         Steve Purdy (POR); Arturo Alvarez (RSL)

THE GAMBIA (at Namibia, Sept. 4)

• ·         Sanna Nyassi (COL); Kenny Mansally (NE); Mustapha Jarju (VAN)

GUATEMALA (vs. St. Vincent & Grenadines, Sept. 2; at Belize, Sept. 6)

• ·         Marco Pappa (CHI)

HAITI (vs. U.S. Virgin Islands, Sept. 2; at Curaçao, Sept. 6)

• ·         Steward Ceus (COL); James Marcelin (POR); Jean Alexandre (RSL)

HONDURAS (vs. Colombia, Sept. 3; vs. Paraguay, Sept. 6)

• ·         Andy Najar (DC); Carlo Costly (HOU)

IRELAND (vs. Slovakia, Sept. 2; at Russia, Sept. 6)

• ·         Robbie Keane (LA)

ISRAEL (under-21 vs. England, Sept. 5)

• ·         Orr Barouch (CHI)

JAMAICA (at Ecuador, Sept. 2)

• ·         Omar Cummings (COL); Jermaine Taylor, Je-Vaughn Watson (HOU); Shavar Thomas (KC); Dane Richards (NY); Ryan Johnson (TOR)

MEXICO (at Poland, Sept. 2; vs. Chile, Sept. 4; vs. Cameroon, Sept. 7)

• ·         Rafa Marquez (NY)

PUERTO RICO (at St. Kitts and Nevis, Sept. 2; vs. Canada, Sept. 6)

• ·         Terry Boss (SEA)

SENEGAL (vs. DR Congo, Sept. 3)

• ·         Bouna Coundoul (NY)

SIERRA LEONE (vs. Egypt, Sept. 3)

• ·         Kei Kamara (KC)

TANZANIA (vs. Algeria, Sept. 4)

• ·         Nizar Khalfan (VAN)

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO (vs. Bermuda, Sept. 2; at Barbados, Sept. 6)

• ·         Julius James (CLB); Chris Birchall (LA); Keon Daniel (PHI)

USA (vs. Costa Rica, Sept. 2; at Belgium, Sept. 6)

• ·         Heath Pearce (CHV), Jeff Larentowicz (COL), Robbie Rogers (CLB), Bill Hamid (DC); Brek Shea (DAL), Zach Loyd (DAL), Teal Bunbury (KC), Landon Donovan (LA), Tim Ream (NY); Juan Agudelo (NY), Kyle Beckerman (RSL)

VENEZUELA (vs. Guinea, Sept. 6)

• ·         Alejandro Moreno (CHV)