The scorpions returned to winning ways following their one nil victory over the Red Devils of Congo Brazzaville at the Weekend on Friday 9th October 2020 in an international friendly in the southern Portuguese resort of Portimao, Faro at Estadio Bela Vista.
Coach Tom Saintfiet and his charges are currently preparing for the resumption of the Afcon Qualifier’s that is announced by CAF to resume in November this year. The Gambia leads its Group D qualification on 4 points (+2) followed by Gabon, DR Congo and Angola at the bottom table.
Friday’s international friendly under the tutelage of Saintfiet comes under the backdrop of preparing for the Afcon, testing new Scorpions faces and engaging on the FIFA international window. After a barren first half although with a few chances for the Scorpions to bury the game, the task of separating the two sides felt to Striker Assan Ceesay with the lone goal in the 11th minutes after resuming from the break, when Musa Juwara failed to beat pass the Congolese keeper Christoph Mafoumbi.
The scorpions did themselves proud with stellar sublime performance witnessed by a few spectators due to the current regulations surrounding public gathering in Portugal.
The strategic approach and discipline by Saintfeit charges displayed a certain level of maturity the young guns are coming to terms with in this demanding period of football.
It could have been a goals galore and the scoreline would have been flattering if not all because of Mafoumbi in goal. In fact, the earliest of chances felt to Assan Ceesay (Torress) in the 6th minute when a simple strong tap would have done the earlier damage.
More of such followed with Ebrima Kolley, Musa Juwara and Sulayman Marreh all could have had their names on the scoresheet.
A happy and proud coach Tom saintfeit was full of praises for his charges at end of the game. “I am very proud of the team. We were in control and we deserve this victory. We are a very strong team, we are number one in qualification and that’s the reason for our great performance tonight”.
With the inclusion three new debutants due in his starting eleven, Coach Saintfiet made it clear that players must now fight and compete for their positions in his squad.
Debutant Goalkeeper Baboucarr Gaye who plays his club football in Germany with Rot Weiss stepped in for the absent Modou Jobe (Toldo) and recorded a clean sheet. Perhaps the revelation of the night was Noah Sonko Sundberg from Swedish top flight Ostrasund, who had a sterling performance in his defensive right back position. Musa Juwara, Ebrima Kolley, Sainey Njie all secured their debut with a win to savour.
“All these players did well today. Every coach want to have so many good players to make a choice. We know in qualification, some players will have injuries so it’s better to have so many good players”. Saintfiet noted
The Gambia will take on Guinea Conakry on Tuesday 13th October at the Estadio Algarve at 5pm in the final preparatory friendly before playing Gabon in the Afcon Qualifier double header scheduled for November 12 and 16.
By Musa Sise, Portimao, Portugal
