The marauding full-back made his international debut in September in a friendly against Sierra Leone, after joining up with his

new team-mates for the first time that month.

Scorpions coach Tom Saintfiet has been busy scouting players of Gambian descent to add to his squad before the country’s first-ever

appearance at the Nations Cup.

The west Africans have been drawn in Group F alongside 2004 champions Tunisia, Mali and Mauritania for the tournament,

which begins in Cameroon on 9 January.

“I’m 26, so it’s an amazing opportunity,” Janko said. “After all these years, to qualify, for such a small country, is outstanding.”

Janko who was born in Switzerland to a Gambian father and an Italian mother, has only been to The Gambia once before – in 2000.

“My father has his family over there and he always said: ‘It’s your decision if you play for Switzerland or The Gambia.’

“Now is the right moment to choose Gambia. I’m very close with my father and I talked to him about my decision, and he supports me.”