Inverness Caledonian Thistle goalkeeper looks for more international opportunities with Gambia after being involved in world cup qualifiers with Ivory Coast and Kenya
MUSA Dibaga says he is looking for more opportunities of being involved in international football after being called up to the Gambia squad for the first time.
The Inverness Caledonian Thistle goalkeeper was an unused substitute for Gambia’s World Cup qualification matches against Kenya and Ivory Coast last week.
It was the first time Dibaga had received an international call-up, who qualified to play for Gambia through his mother, as he was born in Spain.
Despite being called up, he did not receive his first international cap, with Ebrima Jarju who plays for Paide Linnameeskond in Estonia, given the gloves in both matches.
Both matches were played in Abijdan in the Ivory Coast, with Gambia drawing 3-3 with Kenya and losing 1-0 to Ivory Coast.
Despite not playing, Dibaga said it was an incredible experience to be involved with an international team.
Speaking about his experience, he said: "It was good. I was saying to all the boys the hardest challenge over there was the weather.
"There is so much quality. Players are playing in top divisions across the world.
"They seem to do those little details perfectly.
"It was class to be there for a whole week and learn from them, everything they do on a daily basis. I take that away with me, which is really good.”
Gambia’s first match with Kenya was played at a near empty stadium due to playing at a neutral stadium in the Ivory Coast.
But the second match against the Ivory Coast was played in front of almost 20,000 fans at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium.
Speaking about the atmosphere at the match, he said: “In the first game, against Kenya, it was a bit empty because none of us were local.
"It was a big stadium, and it was used for the Afcon final.
"It was good surroundings, and I had never been in a situation like that. I loved it. The environment was amazing.
"In the second game, there were maybe 20,000 people, and even well before the game the fans were there singing and it was a great atmosphere.
"It was not hostile at all. Even when we walked out for the first time, there was some cheering and it was friendly. People were just celebrating for their national team.”
Dibaga says that he hopes to continue impressing with Inverness Caledonian Thistle and receive more international call-ups in the future.
He said: "The first time, you go there for the experience.
“The other goalkeepers have been going for the past couple of years, so you would expect them to play because it was World Cup qualifiers.
"Hopefully for the next camp, I could even get a couple of minutes.”
In the meantime, Dibaga is set to return to the starting line-up for Inverness Caledonian Thistle when they take on Queen of the South in a League One clash in Dumfries on Saturday.
As a result of being on international duty, Dibaga was missing for the 1-1 draw against Alloa Athletic last week.
Inverness brought in goalkeeper Aidan Rice from Celtic on an emergency loan deal for one game only in Dibaga’s absence.
Dibaga is keen to get back into action and help steer Inverness Caledonian Thistle away from the relegation zone.
He said: "I am just thinking about Inverness now.
"Hopefully I can get more clean sheets and three points on Saturday.
"The season has been good so far. We just need to concentrate on getting away from the relegation play-off place and then we can look forward.
"We are just looking at each game one at a time. We're aiming for three points every time and that would be good for the team.”