Young Scorpions Coach Mattar M’Boge has reacted to the U-20 AFCON draw, describing it as fair and satisfactory. He made these remarks on the sidelines of the team’s training session at the National Technical Training Center in Yundum on Monday afternoon.
The Gambia is drawn with familiar teams in the competition as Ghana, Morocco and Tanzania in Group C and M’Boge expressed satisfaction on the preparations and the attendance of high profile dignitaries at the draw held in the Cameroonian capital, Yaounde.
“My phone has been on and off all day with reactions about the draw and that shows you the significance of the tournament,” he stated, noting that the team is at its final phase of preparations before going to camp ahead of the competition.
“I think if people describe our group as the most difficult group, I would agree because we have the champions of WAFU A, champions of WAFU B, North African champions and Tanzania came second in their East African zone. Ghana been the only U-20 African team to win the World Cup, but for us it’s a fair draw and instead of calling it the group of death, we call it the group of life because whenever you play against these teams you’re going to be so energized and so motivated to put on a show,” he highlighted.
He further described the competition as a big opportunity, noting that they only have a positive mindset which they intend to take to the competition. He disclosed that he has opened the door for some few players to come prove themselves.
He added that the plan is to travel to camp in Morocco before proceeding to Mauritania but there’s also a contingency plan in case they face flight difficulties in the middle of a global pandemic that has ravaged the world. “We’ve offers for test matches in Morocco; about three which will be amazing but if we can get a minimum of two matches with different opponents it would be good.”
The Young Scorpions will begin their campaign on February 16 against Morocco which is barely three weeks away and Coach Mattar said it’s a good time to go to camp and get all of the players and staff together and go to the tournament and represent the country as best as they can.
