Sarjo Baldeh, a 22-year-old Gambian photographer, has captured attention and admiration at the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Ivory Coast, where she was one of the few African female photographers covering the tournament, even catching the eyes of the British newspaper, The Guardian.

Baldeh’s journey to becoming a sports photographer began when she received a Canon T6 camera as a birthday present at the age of 20. Growing up in Lamin, a village in west Gambia, she had developed a passion for photography through a summer program run by Starfish International, a non-profit organization empowering girls in the Gambia.

Despite the challenges of accessing expensive cameras in her country, Baldeh pursued her passion and honed her skills, eventually venturing into sports photography, a field with limited resources and information in the Gambia.

Her breakthrough came when she accompanied the Gambia national team to Afcon, her biggest assignment yet. Despite being the only female photographer in the team’s group of four, Baldeh stood out with her distinctive style and dedication. She rented professional camera equipment and her travel expenses were sponsored by Fortune FC, a Gambian football club, with accommodation covered by the Gambia’s ministry of youth and sports.

Baldeh’s hard work and talent did not go unnoticed. Her photos, often shared on social media with live updates during matches, garnered praise and recognition from various platforms. She was commended for her perseverance in a male-dominated field and for her ability to capture the essence of the games.

Reflecting on her experience at Afcon, Baldeh expressed her desire to continue advancing in sports photography and to be recognized for her skills on par with male photographers. Her dream is to cover the 2026 World Cup, an achievement that would make her the first Gambian sports photographer to do so, as Gambia has never qualified for the tournament.

Baldeh’s journey serves as an inspiration to aspiring photographers, especially women, in Africa and beyond, demonstrating the power of determination and passion in pursuing one’s dreams against all odds.