Ousman Gai

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Ousman Gai
Personal information
Full name Pa Ousman Gai [1]
Date of birth (2000-03-06) 6 March 2000 (age 25)
Place of birth The Gambia
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Manila Digger
Number 15
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
Stade de Mbour
2021–2022 Teungueth
2022–2024 Banjul United
2024– Manila Digger 20 (12)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Ousman Gai (born 6 March 2000) is a Gambian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Filipino club Manila Digger in the Philippines Football League.

Contents

Club Career

Early club career

Gai started his career at Stade de Mbour in Senegal. Gai would then move to Teungueth in 2021. [2] After a brief stint at the club, Gai would return to Gambia and earned a move to Banjul United in 2024.

Manila Digger

2024–25 season

Gai signed for Filipino club Manila Digger in 2024 alongside Gambian compatriots Modou Manneh, Modou Joof, and Saikou Ceesay. [3] Gai made his debut in the Philippines Football League against One Taguig playing as a starter in a 3–1 loss. [4] His big break arrived in his second match in the league against Mendiola 1991 where he would score a brace in a 4–0 win. [5]

In his match against Dynamic Herb Cebu on 22 February 2025, he would be sent off in the match after receiving two yellow cards and would get suspended for three matches. [6]

In the 2024–25 PFL Finals Series Gai would score an own goal against One Taguig in the semi-finals, but would redeem himself, as he scored the game-winning goal enough for Manila Digger to advance to the final of the Finals Series. [7]

2025–26 season

Gai stayed at the club for another season and would be part of Digger's starting squad in their match against Persib in the 2025–26 AFC Champions League Two Qualification Play-offs.

Gai made his continental debut on 13 August 2025 in the AFC Champions League Two against Persib in a 2–1 loss. [8]

In the 2025–26 AFC Challenge League, Gai became one of the important players for Manila Digger in their campaign scoring against teams: Ezra from Laos and SP Falcons from Mongolia, he would also get an assist in the match, assisting fellow Gambian compatriot Saikou Ceesay in the first half of the match. [9] [10]

International Career

While playing for Stade de Mbour, Gai was part of the Gambia U20 squad in the WAFU U-20 Championship in 2018. [11] Gai was also part of the squad that won against hosts Liberia in the final to secure their first international title. [12]

Career Statistics

Club

As of match played 29 October 2025
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupContinental [a]
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Manila Digger 2024–25 Philippines Football League 1610
2025–26 Philippines Football League6332

Honours

Gambia U20

Notes

References

  1. "Pa Ousman Gai – Global Sports Archive". Global Sports Archive.
  2. "Ousman Gai" . Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  3. "New season, new squad strength!" . Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  4. Suing, Ivan (September 30, 2024). "One Taguig starts PFL season with 3-1 win". Daily Tribune. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
  5. Suing, Ivan (October 6, 2024). "Diggers bury Mendiola, 4-0". Daily Tribune. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
  6. Rosal, Glendale (February 22, 2025). "Cebu FC falls short in gritty clash vs. Manila Digger FC" . Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  7. "FULL TIME: Manila Digger FC 2–1 One Taguig FC" . Retrieved April 26, 2025.
  8. "PS – Persib Bandung (IDN) 2–1 Manila Digger FC (PHI)". the-afc.com. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  9. "Group D: Manila Digger FC (PHI) 3-1 Ezra FC (LAO)". the-afc.com. October 26, 2025.
  10. "Group D: SP Falcons FC (MNG) 0–2 Manila Digger FC (PHI)". the-afc.com. October 29, 2025.
  11. Jatta, Omar. "Young Scorpions Jet Off to Liberia for WAFU 2018 Cup Tournament" . Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  12. Walker, Christopher. "Gambia Wins WAFU U-20 tournament" . Retrieved May 7, 2018.