The Gambia accorded the touring FIFA World Cup trophy the biggest welcome ever in the history of the customary tour, which started during the 2006 World Cup finals held in Germany, FIFA official has revealed.

FIFA and long-term partners, Coca-Cola, are taking the trophy around the continent to allow thousands of football fans enjoy a rare close-up view of the authentic gold trophy. Already, the prestigious prize has visited numerous soccer-crazy nations including Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Mauritania, Cape Verde and Mali.

However, after witnessing the Banjul welcoming ceremony yesterday at the Independence Stadium, the FIFA media officer of the tour, Emmanuel Maradas, admitted it was the biggest ever crowd that has gathered to welcome the trophy since the inception of the tour. "Having seen myself the number people that gathered at the national stadium to welcome us, I can comfortably say that this is the biggest crowd ever to welcome the trophy in any nation," Maradas told Observer Sports yesterday. "I think this historic welcome only reminded me of the passion the Gambian leader and his people have for the game."

"We had intended to host the trophy in a closed-door viewing session, but your president insisted that we must display it at the national stadium for every Gambian to have a taste of it and now I know why he said so because we had never expected such a crowd and we were especially thrilled by the enthusiasm we saw in Gambian people," concluded the elated FIFA official.

Despite the unexpected downpour of rain, the Independence Stadium was full to the capacity as the Gambian leader, Sheikh Professor Dr Alhaji Yahya Jammeh, presented the trophy to the public who had waited eagerly to enjoy a close-view of the real gold trophy with much adoration and passion.