Gambia’s hopes of maintaining home wins in it’s recent international matches has just suffered a slight dent when it lost to Senegal two nil on Wednesday August 21st when the two countries’ local based national Teams (CHAN) faced off at the Independence Stadium in Bakau for a warm up friendly.
Following previous decent performances and great results from the various national team categories in both Men and Women, the National Local based side’s mid week performance was described by Head Coach Omar Sise as disappointing largely due to mistakes.
Sise however praised his charges for second half performance despite the two early goals in a space of three minutes through duminitive Abdoulie Ba in 18th Min of the opening game while Djibril Gueye added the scoring three minutes later.
Gambia’s Coach Omar Sise at post match presser said his side lost the game due to mistakes. “The mistakes we did in the first 35 minutes caused us the game. Even though, we corrected it and got back to the game, we were unfortunate but this is not the end. We are making up a team for a tournament so this is a good warm up for us,” he said. He noted however the importance of the friendly to prepare the local based national team for the Wafu tournament in Senegal. “I am disappointed but it’s football. We will go back and focus more”.
Senegalese Coach Sering Salieu Mbacke Dia praised the hosts for having a good side despite the defeat.”The Gambia has a good team but we were stronger in defense and were quick on the break”. He noted further that his lads were quick in action and played much faster than the Gambian team that according to him previleged him over the hosts
Both Coaches Sise and Dia expects a return leg next week in Dakar as both teams prepare ahead of the West African Football Union (WAFU) Championships to be held in Thies Senegal, between September 28th to October 12 where the Gambia will open it’s account to Ghana.