Mustapha Carayol

Early career

Born in Banjul, Carayol began his career as a youth player with Swindon Town and when Paul Ince moved from Swindon to become manager of Macclesfield Town in 2006 he took Carayol with him as a trainee. At the time he was quoted as saying "I'm happy to clean the whole first team's boots all season for this opportunity". When Ince became manager of Milton Keynes Dons in 2007, he signed Carayol again, offering him his first professional contract. He made his first team debut for MK Dons against Sheffield United in the League Cup on 28 August 2007 and went on to appear in one further cup game. In October 2007, Carayol joined Crawley Town on loan to gain further first team experience. It came after Carayol played against them at the Crawley training ground the week before. Carayol made his Crawley Town debut, which he scored, in a 1–1 draw against Aldershot Town. Soon after, Carayol's loan spell with Crawley Town was soon extended for another month and again until the end of the season. Carayol then scored two more goals against Grays Athletic and Stafford Rangers.

Torquay United

On 13 July 2008, he was signed by Torquay United on a two–year contract. Carayol made his Torquay United debut, in the opening game of the season, where he came on as a substitute for Danny Stevens in the 68th minute, in a 1–1 draw against Histon. In his first season at Torquay United, Carayol made thirty appearances for the club and helped the club reach promotion back to…

Carayol can play "in either wide area, as a 10 or as a striker."

Carayol was eligible to play for Gambia through his father, Senegal through his mother and England by holding a British passport. In 2008, he rejected a national call-up from Gambia, citing his commitment at Torquay United but stating that he could play for the national team one day. In 2015, however, Carayol stated that it was the "right time" to commit his international future to the Gambia following a consultation from his family. Carayol then made his Gambia debut against Uganda in a 1–1 draw on 10 June 2015. He then gained his second cap against Mauritania in March 2016, when he scored a brilliant solo goal.

Born in Banjul, Gambia, Carayol's Parents came from Gambia and his grandparents from his mother's side are from Senegal. His grandfather and namesake was the chairman of Gambia's independence electoral commission in Banjul.