Omar Badjie is a 16-year-old Gambian right-footed left winger who currently plays for Gambinos Stars Academy in Gambia. This report is based on his performances during the 2026 U17 WAFU A tournament, where he played four games, scoring three times and assisting once. Gambia won the tournament, with Badjie also receiving the Player of the Tournament award.

Badjie possesses a slim frame and stands at around 1.62 m, which is small for a winger, but offers several advantages to his style of play. This should be considered in the context of his age, as he is still only 16 and likely has further physical development ahead of him. He has a low centre of gravity and is agile, which enables him to change direction sharply. His anaerobic qualities stand out more than his aerobic qualities, due to his explosiveness and acceleration.

For Gambia U17, Badjie has primarily been used as an inverted left winger or a traditional right winger in a 4-3-3. He also showed the ability to play as a centre-forward when needed. Dribbling is his standout trait. He’s confident in 1v1s and uses a variety of deception techniques, particularly sudden stops and simple scissors, to use his opponent’s momentum against them. He favours cutting inside and progressing individually rather than crossing or combining with teammates in the final third, which can make him too individualistic at times. His first touch is great, as well as his touch under pressure when having to shield, which is aided by his low centre of gravity. His short passing is decent, which is often seen in combinations centrally. His left foot is a clear weakness, as he rarely uses it and lacks the quality to consistently do so. This can limit his options when playing as a traditional right winger. He’s not afraid to shoot and is able to do so with power. He also generates strong power with minimal backlift, allowing him to release passes and shots quickly.

Off the ball, Badjie is an energetic presser, and his off-ball movement is particularly noticeable when playing as a striker, as he positions himself well in the half-spaces and is able to surge down channels consistently due to his strong acceleration. He also moves intuitively between the lines. His positioning as an inverted winger on the left is fairly simple, as he often looks to receive the ball before cutting inside or running behind the fullback. From the right, he tends to maintain width and stretch the opposition line before looking to attack his man. His defensive contribution is in line with the tactical setup of Gambia U17, not having to track back as much, but being able to do so due to his great engine and energy.

Overall, Badjie profiles as a small, agile, and silky winger who’s confident taking on his man and likes to cut inside from the left. His main weaknesses are his occasional lack of associative play and his limited weak foot ability. Given his age, both physical and technical development should be monitored, as he already possesses a solid foundation for a winger. At his peak, I could see Badjie becoming a starter for a bottom half team in a T5 league, particularly if he improves his associative play instincts. He would fit best as an inverted left winger in a system that uses a front three.