The Deputy Inspector General of Gambia's police says that all necessary security measures have been taken to avoid any violence ahead of Sunday's clash with Senegal.
The neighbours meet in a joint World Cup and Nations Cup qualifier in Banjul, with the last competitive meeting between the sides in 2003 having sparked violence in the Gambian capital.

"We are not only providing security within the stadium - but providing security before, during and after the match," Modou Gaye, who also acts as Fifa and Caf?s Security Officer in the Gambia, told BBC Sport.

"And that will be all over the country because we have more than 500,000 Senegalese living in the Gambia, and we have been living with them for so many years without any problems."

That said, the team's last Nations Cup meeting in June 2003, which ended in a 3-1 victory for Senegal in Dakar, was marred by clashes between the local police and visiting Gambian fans.

As the latter reacted badly to the defeat, many were beaten by the police, as well as by Senegalese, before returning to their homeland.

When Gambians learnt of their compatriots' mistreatment, they took it out on local Senegalese in Banjul by looting and burning their businesses, as well as actively seeking them out to inflict physical harm.

Mindful of the trouble that led to the closure of the border between the countries, some Banjul-based Senegalese who suffered problems last time have returned home for a while.


"Some friends of mine, who had their merchandise stolen or destroyed five years ago, have gone home for a month," Pape, a 29-year-old Senegalese trader in Banjul's Albert Market, told BBC Sport.

"Because they believe - and fear - that there will be problems again."

Prior to 2003, there had never been any trouble between the neighbours - who formed a 7-year political union called Senegambia in the 1980s - when their teams clashed.

The two countries are effectively the same people, yet were divided by colonialism as the British colonised the Gambia while the surrounding area, now Senegal, was appropriated by the French.

With the Gambia having won just once in 18 matches against the Teranga Lions, their only victory having come at home in 1962, the derby is the country?s most special fixture.

"Playing Senegal is definitely the biggest game of our lives, because we never beat them," Gambian captain Ebou Silla told BBC Sport.

"We lose or draw every time, so beating them would be very big for us. Even if you brought Brazil out here, we would not want to play them - because we need to beat Senegal."

Meanwhile, the visiting Teranga Lions know that they have a role to play if tensions are not to be inflamed on Sunday.

"If supporters see the players behaving well on the pitch as well as enjoying themselves, then they are going to enjoy themselves," defender Ibrahima Sonko told BBC Sport.

"The result matters for both teams but the main thing is that everybody keeps calm and enjoys the day."

The two countries' respective governments have tried to diffuse tensions ahead of the match, with a special game being played between former internationals from both countries last weekend to ease the mood.

A strong security presence will be on hand at the Independence Stadium on Sunday, with an estimated 4,000 Senegalese expected amongst what should be a capacity crowd of 24,500.
Piers Edwards
BBC Sport, Banjul