Down and Out – Country Sent Packing

FOROYAA Newspaper (Serrekunda)

Sulayman Bah

28 April 2011

Gambians had their hopes rested in the Darling Scorpions as last resort to save the country from the jinx of poor run after dismal showings by the Baby Scorpions [U-17] and the national team; but it turns out to be the case of no improvement with the Gambia U-20, the latest to be slammed with the exit door after garnering only a single point, incurring four goals and scoring once in three matches in group B.

Fairly to say, the Scorpions aren’t the only team packing up for home, as Ghana is axed out of the tournament following a non-qualifying third-place finish.

Either side fired blanks in the first-half, but back from the dressing room, The Flying Eagles of Nigeria broke the deadlock with a Stanley Okoro’s 67th minute effort.

The Scorpion’s offensive hardly proved a headache to the Nigerian defence with their only near goal effort falling to Alasana Camara, a chance the Steve Biko starlet squandered minutes later.

While co-striker Ebrima Camara struggled for balls in a bid to turn the heat on the opponents’ defense, Lamin Sarr had to do without key-players Mamut Saine and Bubacarr Jammeh at the middle of the park who served suspension each for acquiring cards.

Ahead of the Game against Nigeria, Babucarr Jammeh who was lone goalscorer for Gambia against Ghana, was sent off the pitch for an ungentle tackle on a Ghanaian player. The Colorado Rush Academy youngster made a reckless two-footed challenge on a Ghanaian player which earned him a red card.

It was too little yet too late for the 2007 bronze medalist, as Nigeria doubled the scores via a Ramond Azeez homer in the 77th minute as the Eagles sealed a ticket for the U-20 World Cup to Columbia. The same side beat Gambia in Congo in the semis.

Lamin Sarr chastized the GFA for what he called unfair treatment of him. Sarr had series of his test matches and camp proposals turned down before the tournament for ‘purely financial’ reasons.

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