GAM FOOTBALL NEWS:
The Gambia’s Under 20s had to come from behind to force a 1-1 draw against their contemporaries from Guinea Conakry in their opening game of the 2018 WAFU Cup tournament in Liberia.
The Guinean team’s captain, Fode Kebe opened the scoring in the 27th minute, after beautifully coiling a direct free-kick from the left edge of the Gambia’s penalty area, over the three-man Gambian wall into front left corner of Yankuba Colley’s net, beating the static Gambian keeper on his near post. Colley who seem to have adjudged the flight of the ball should have probably done better. Notwithstanding, and taking nothing from Kebe, it was a well taken shot, which must he have had spent lot of time time practising over time.
It was a shock the Gambian players, whom up to that point were in the game even though the Junior Sylis looked more dangerous on the break. However it took just 5 minutes for the Young Scorpions to find the reply after a cross from the left wing found The Gambian captain, Basirou Mbye, who plays for FC Lokeren in the Belgian top tier league, in the Guinean box, his cut back header found the Gambia Armed Forces’ Adama Jammeh on the near left to guide home the equaliser.
It was a well worked goal and one the team deserved for not curling up after going behind 5 minutes earlier. The team continued to assert themselves in the game at the Samuel K Doe Sport stadium in Monrovia at kept the Guineans at bay to take 1 all score into the half-time break.
Both teams came out from the break with more purpose, with both creating chances but failed to capitalise and the game ended in a draw. Although the Guineans laid a late siege in the Gambia’s penalty area but the Young Scorpions stood firm to weather the storm.
It was a good result for Matarr Mboge and his team, who are now set to face the group’s favourites Mali, who ran riotous on Senegal’s Young Lions yesterday, beating them 3 – 1.
The Gambia’s Number 10 Abdoulie Sarr picked up the Man-of-the-match award after a great performance against the Guineans.
