In Focus: Gambia goals boost Bologna star Barrow's stock at AFCON

Gambia have been making waves at their first Africa Cup of Nations and Musa Barrow has been the Scorpions’ star man.

The 23-year-old is shining on the international stage having enjoyed a strong campaign in Serie A with Bologna — raising the prospect of a potential move to the Premier League next summer.

We take a look at why Barrow is catching the eye this season ahead Gambia’s quarter-final tie against hosts Cameroon.

AFCON inspiration

Gambia have kept it tight in Cameroon, winning three of their games 1-0 and drawing the other 1-1 — and Barrow has played a part in each of their four goals.

Ten minutes into the Scorpions’ opening match against Mauritania, he set up Ablie Jallow for the winner before scoring a 90th-minute equaliser from the penalty spot against Mali four days later.

He then provided an assist for Jallow once again — this time for a dramatic 93rd-minute goal — to shock Tunisia and send Tom Saintfiet’s side through to the knockout stages.

But his biggest moment came in Monday’s victory over Guinea as he finished under pressure to keep Gambia’s dream run going.

Bologna breakthrough

Barrow made 52 appearances for his first senior club Atalanta but it is since moving to Bologna that he has really made a name for himself.

Having joined on loan in January 2020, he scored nine goals in 18 appearances to finish as the top league goalscorer for Sinisa Mihajlovic’s men.

He ultimately made his move to the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara permanent last July, and has racked up 77 appearances for the Rossoblu to date.

English ambition

Speaking back in the summer, Barrow’s agent Luigi Sorrentino had high hopes for his client.

He said: "Our dream is to go to the Premier League. It’s the best league in the world and it’s the dream of most Gambians.

"Who knows how far he [Barrow] can go. If he continues the way he is now, there is nothing that could hold him back."

Should he ultimately realise his dream, Barrow could become just the second-ever Gambian to play in the Premier League — following his namesake, former Swansea winger Mo Barrow.

Impossible to pigeonhole

Barrow has played approximately two-thirds of his club football as a striker as well as frequently operating on the left flank while in Italy.

This season, the latter role has tended to be on the left of a narrow front three or as one of two No10s behind a lone forward.

Barrow has also partnered Marko Arnautovic in a front two recently, demonstrating that he is a versatile and tactically flexible operator.

Statistically speaking

While not quite sustaining his average of a goal every other game from the start of his time at Bologna, Barrow has continued to find the net at a steady rate.

So far this term, he has registered five strikes at a rate of 0.35 per 90, placing him second among Bologna players in terms of scoring frequency. Only Arnautovic has struck more times in Serie A (six) or in all competitions (seven).

But, as we have seen from his exploits for Gambia this month, Barrow likes to get creative too.

He ranks joint-ninth in Serie A for big chances created this season with six — and joint-second among forwards alone.