By Jabulile Ngwenya
The World Cup trophy was due to arrive on Wednesday in Banjul, the capital of Gambia, where Gambian President Yahya Jammeh was to unveil the trophy before his countrymen at the Independence Stadium in Bakau.
Following Fifa protocol, only presidents and winners of the World Cup tournament are allowed to touch the trophy.
Excited soccer lovers in Gambia will be able to get a glimpse of the trophy during its three-day tour of the West African country.
Named after the Gambia River, the country, at about 500km long and 50km wide, is Africa's smallest nation.
English, Mandinka, Wolof and Fula are spoken by the 1.6-million inhabitants.
The country was made famous by American writer Alex Haley, who traced his roots to Gambia in his novel Roots, which explores the transatlantic slave trade during the 16th to 18th centuries.
The Gambian national soccer team, known as The Scorpions, has never qualified for either the World Cup or the African Nations Cup, but boasts a handful of players who play for clubs in Canada and Europe.
These players include defenders Amadou Sanyang and Emmanuel Gomez, who were signed to play for Canadian football team Toronto FC earlier in 2009.
Striker Njogu Demba Nyren plays for the Danish Superliga side OB Odense, after joining from the Norwegian team SK Brann.