African Olympic-hopefuls Senegal will face Gillingham in a friendly encounter as preparation for their crucial play-off match.

Senegal will meet Oman at the end of April with the winner booking their place in the London 2012 Olympic football tournament.

In a warm-up for that match, in Coventry, their team will head to Priestfield to face Andy Hessenthaler’s Gillingham side on Tuesday, April 17.

Some of the Senegal Olympic team, such as Lamine Gassama, Khassim Soumare and Pape Maly Diamanka play at a high level in Europe, while the country has produced high-profile stars such as El Hadji Diouf and Salif Diao.

The Senegal Olympic team will be training in the Medway Towns ahead of the games this summer. Priestfield has been approved as a base for the Senegal football team, should they qualify.

Medway Park will be home to the majority of the stars from the French-speaking west African nation.

It is not the first time the Gills have faced international opposition. In 2006 they faced the United Arab Emirates for a friendly match in Le Touquet, France.

Kick-off will be at 7pm. Adult tickets cost £5 and under-16s are admitted for £2.

A Gills XI, meanwhile, will head to Folkestone Invicta on Monday night to take part in a benefit game for the Ryman League side’s long-serving assistant Micky Dix.

The game kicks off at 7.45pm with a £5 entry fee.