New England Revolution teammates Kenny Mansally and Sainey Nyassi have been called up to the Gambia National Team for three friendly matches in early January. The pair will join the national team for friendlies against Angola (Saturday, Jan. 2), Egypt (Tuesday, Jan. 5) and Tunisia (Saturday, Jan. 9).
All three of Gambia's opponents are currently preparing for the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be hosted by Angola from Jan. 10 through January 31. Gambia did not qualify for the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations, the 27th edition of Africa's biennial soccer championship.
Mansally, 20, has made three appearances for Gambia's senior national team since being called up for the first time in June 2008. All three of Mansally's previous appearances were in 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, although Gambia - nicknamed the Scorpions - failed to advance to the final round of qualifying. In his most recent appearance for the senior team, Mansally earned his first international assist, setting up the game-tying goal in the 87th minute of a 1-1 draw with Senegal on Oct. 11, 2008.
Mansally, who has played as a left-sided midfielder with the national team, recorded one goal and two assists in 25 regular-season appearances with the Revolution in 2009, his second full season with the club. He also notched two goals and two assists in four appearances in SuperLiga, while he added one assist in the MLS Cup Playoffs.
Nyassi, a 20-year-old midfielder, has twice previously been called up to Gambia's senior national team, but has yet to make an appearance. In 28 regular-season appearances with the Revolution last season, Nyassi recorded two goals and one assist.
Both players were last called up to the Gambia National Team for a friendly against Gabon on Feb. 11, 2009, but the match was cancelled because of inclement weather.
The 2010 MLS SuperDraft is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 14, in Philadelphia, while the Revolution is scheduled to open the 2010 season on the road against the LA Galaxy on Saturday, March 27, at The Home Depot Center.
