The WAFU trophy has finally touched down the Gambian soil on Sunday when the Young Scorpions won the coveted title over the weekend at the final in Monrovia when the Gambia emerged champions after a shocking 2-1 over host Liberia in the final at a packed Samuel Kanyan Doe sports Complex in Monrovia.
The welcome ceremony gathered hundreds of fans and football stakeholders from across the country all converged at the Banjul International Airport to set sight of the country’s first WAFU trophy at U-20 level.
The GFF mobilisation Committee headed by its General Secretary Lamin M Jassey brought together all GFF Staff and Members of the Football Federation including the National Scorpions Fan Club and the Kabekel Cultural Group to give the fans a befitting welcome.
The welcome party toured the streets of Brikama Highway coming down to Sere Kunda right up to West Field and bending along the Kairaba Avenue to Pipeline and resting to the Football House in Kanifing where the GFF President Lamin Kaba Bajo briefly addressed the gathering. Mr Bajo thanked all Gambians for the large turn out and congratulated the Young Scorpions for their heroic performance.
After landing from the Aircraft with the trophy, Young Scorpions Head Coach Mattar Mboge said the jubilant mood by the Young Scorpions shows their love and and pleasure for the WAFU win. ‘ We told the boys that the pressure is on us for the Gambia to win the final because the the U-20 has never won a trophy for the country and they lived up to it’. He said the team now will go back and regroup for the AfCON Qualifier against Benin on Sunday May 13th with an intent to replicate their WAFU credentials over the visitors. Mattar congratulated the Young Scorpions and the technical back up for the unity amongst the team and also thanked the GFF for the provision of all logistics for the team.
At the weekend Final in Monrovia, the Young Scorpions went up as early as the third minute through Adama Jammeh to silence the home crowd.
The homers had to wait till five minutes after recess to draw level. Jeremy Sengbeh connected from a corner to even the scores and get the host crowd back on to their feet.
On 67 minutes, Jammeh capitalized on yet another defensive blunder by the Liberia rear for Abdoulie Sarr to slot home the match winner.
The host took consolation in Allen Njie being named Most Valuable Player of the tournament and Ivorian forward Diabate Yalatif as top scorer. The Gambia scooped five awards including the Championship trophy. Four Gambian players were named Man of the Match in their respective fixtures.
In the third place play off, Mali beat Cote d’Ivoire 1-0 to claim bronze courtesy a Moussa Gary goal.