The Gambia opened its campaign for a place at the 2021 AFCON with an emphatic 3-1 away defeat of Angola at the Estádio 11 de Novembro on Wednesday evening.
The Scorpions went behind after 3 minutes when Wilson Eduardo stabbed home a rebound. However, Tom Saintfiet’s charges regrouped and scored two quick-fired goals courtesy of mesmeric forward Assan Ceesay. He scored to ensure parity after 17 minutes when he headed home a Modou Barrow cross and a minute later he gave The Gambia the lead for the first time in the match which stayed until the break.
Following the injury to Barrow, midway into the second stanza, Bubacarr Steve Trawally replaced him and fellow returnee Sulayman Marreh scored what proved to be the winner on the stroke of regulation time. After 5 minutes of injury time, the Scorpions held on for a famous win.
The Gambia was boosted by the returns of Marreh, Hamza Barry, Modou Barrow, and Trawally, and the former trio went straight into the starting lineup. Modou Jobe began in goal with a back four of Omar Colley, Bubacarr Sanneh, Ngine Faye (replaced by Dawda Ngum after a second-half injury) and Captain Pa Modou Jagne (Nda). Ebrima Sohna was partnered by Marreh and Hamza while Ceesay was assisted on the two wings by Barrow and Abdoulie Jallow.
The Scorpions will now host the Democratic Republic of Congo at the Independence Stadium in Bakau for the second match day in Group D on Monday 18th November, with kick off starting at 4pm. The Gambia is seeking a maiden appearance at the AFCON and Wednesday’s win would serve as a great boost for those chances.
Meanwhile the GFF Events Management Committee (EMC) has earlier announced that match tickets for the Monday encounter at home to the DR Congo would be VIP at D1000:00, Covered pavilions at D200:00 and Uncovered pavilions at only D100:00. The Committee further announced that match tickets would be sold in advance only at Africell Head Office along Kairaba Avenue and all other Africell outlets.