USA FINALLY BEATS GAMBIA ON KEKUTA MANNEH

Gambia (Football) Vancouver Whitecaps FC midfielder Kekuta Manneh has been called up to the United States men’s national team for their annual January training camp, U.S. Soccer confirmed on yesterday

.This marks the first United States national team call-up for the 22-year-old winger on any level.

 Manneh is in the process of completing his eligibility requirements to represent the United States. While that process is ongoing, he is cleared to participate in the training camp. Manneh joins a 32-man roster in Carson, California for the first training camp in Bruce Arena's second stint as national team head coach. The team is made up entirely of MLS players, representing 15 different clubs. The camp comes just two months before Final Round Qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup resumes. Players will report for camp on January 10 at the National Training Center, before the team travels to San Diego, California for a January 29 friendly versus Serbia at Qualcomm Stadium.

The scene then shifts to Chattanooga, Tennessee for a February 3 fixture against Jamaica at Finley Stadium. As a result, Manneh will miss the 'Caps preseason trip to Wales, and will join the club in Vancouver on February 4. Whitecaps FC travel to Portland, Oregon on February 7 for a preseason tournament at Providence Park. The club opens the year with CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal matches versus New York Red Bulls, first on Wednesday, February 22 at Red Bull Arena, then on Thursday, March 2 at BC Place. The 'Caps MLS regular season opener is Sunday, March 5 when they host Philadelphia Union at BC Place.

Born in Bakau, The Gambia, Manneh moved to the United States in 2010. Hailing from Austin, Texas, the 2013 MLS Super Draft selection has 22 goals and 12 assists in 63 starts and 101 MLS appearances for Whitecaps FC, including playoffs. In addition, he has one goal in three starts and 12 appearances in other competitions for Vancouver.

PLAYER DEPARTURES UNITED STATES MEN'S NATIONAL TEAM ROSTER BY POSITION

Goalkeepers (5): David Bingham (San Jose Earthquakes), Stefan Frei (Seattle Sounders FC), Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake), Luis Robles (New York Red Bulls)

Defenders (10): DaMarcus Beasley (Unattached), Steve Birnbaum (D.C. United), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders FC), Greg Garza (Atlanta United FC), Matt Hedges (FC Dallas), Taylor Kemp (D.C. United), Chad Marshall (Seattle Sounders FC), Keegan Rosenberry (Philadelphia Union), Walker Zimmerman (FC Dallas), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)

Midfielders (12): Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas), Alejandro Bedoya (Philadelphia Union), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Benny Feilhaber (Sporting Kansas City), Jermaine Jones (Unattached), Sacha Kljestan (New York Red Bulls), Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy), Kekuta Manneh (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Dax McCarty (New York Red Bulls), Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers), Chris Pontius (Philadelphia Union), Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew SC)

Forwards (5): Juan Agudelo (New England Revolution), Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy)