Cherno Samba came to footballing prominence on football management game Championship Manager. His high potential in the game resulting from him scoring 132 goals in 32 games as a 13year old. A number of clubs sought to sign him but he signed schoolboy forms with Millwall who later turned down a £50,000 bid from Colchester for him. Millwall agreed a contract with him , whereby he was guaranteed two years of football at senior team level, on him signing full school boy forms. Due to make his Millwall F.C. debut on 22 February 2003, it never happened and he never fulfilled his promise, playing out his two professional years in the reserves

After being released by Millwall, he played in Spain for Cádiz CF, and was then loaned out for season 2005/6 to Málaga.

He returned to English football after Ian Holloway signed him on a free on transfer deadline day, August 2006 for Plymouth Argyle[5] signing him to a two year contract. Cherno made his English League debut on 30 September 2006 as a second half substitute (74th minute) at the Ricoh Arena against Coventry City, and within 8 minutes he scored his first league goal in a 1-0 win for Argyle.

In January, 2007 he joined Wrexham on loan for a month, He was eventually released by Plymouth in December 2007, having made just 13 appearances and scoring only the one goal. In August 2008, he signed for Finnish side FC Haka but was released from his contract in February 2009.

In the 2009 close season, he trialled with both Swindon and Norwich - playing and scoring for the latter in the 4-1 win over Thetford Town on 29th July 2009. In September 2009, he trialled with Portsmouth

In February 2010, Cherno signed with Greek Second Division club Panetolikos F.C., after spending some time on trial with the team.

Although he represented the England international team at every level up to England Under-20, he was capped by Gambia in September 2008 against Liberia. He followed the example of his father who had played in goal for Gambia.