Gambia's Pa Omar Babou Finds Stardom in Bangladesh After Israeli Stint

Pa Omar Babou, a Gambian footballer who previously trialed with Maccabi Haifa and played in Israel's youth leagues, is currently experiencing a career resurgence in Bangladesh. At 27, Babou is captaining and starring for Fortis FC, a relatively new club founded in 2020, where he has become a pivotal player.

In the 2025/26 season, Babou was instrumental in Fortis FC's success, contributing to 21 goals in 16 appearances with 14 goals and 7 assists. This performance placed him second in both the league's top scorer and assist charts. His leadership was crucial as he captained the team to its first-ever qualification for the AFC Challenge Cup group stage, providing the assist for the decisive goal in a qualifying match against Muras United.

Babou's journey to Bangladesh is marked by a varied career path. He began his youth career in Gambia, notably scoring the winning goal in the 2014 Gambian Cup final at just 15. He later moved to Israel, where he played for Ramat HaSharon's youth team, scoring 19 goals in the 2016/17 season and attracting interest from Maccabi Haifa, who ultimately did not sign him. His senior career saw him play for Ramat HaSharon again, as well as brief stints in Croatia with Hajduk Split's reserve team, Georgia with Dila Gori, Belgium with Lommel, and Morocco with Chabab Mohammedia.

Despite not achieving the high-profile European career initially envisioned, Babou has found a stable and productive environment in Bangladesh. His current form highlights his development as a senior player, proving that significant contributions can be found outside the most prominent leagues.