Under-20 Men’s National Team head coach MattarM’Boge has selected the 20 players to represent the Gambia at the second edition of the WAFU Zone A U-20 Championship to take place in Guinea from 24th November to 8th December 2019. Under the guidance of M’Boge, the Young Scorpions were crowned champions of the inaugural edition held in Monrovia, Liberia in 2018.
The Gambia begin their title defence on Monday 25th November against Mali (3.30pm), before facing Liberia on Wednesday 27th November (3.30pm) before wrapping up the group stage on Sunday 1st December (4pm) against Guinea-Bissau. The Young Scorpions are placed in Group B with matches taking place at the newly renovated Stade de Nongo in Conakry.
“We have a big challenge in front of us, but we are all looking forward to the task at hand. Having the opportunity to defend a trophy for your country is a chance that doesn’t come around very often,”M’Boge said.
“We tried to maintain the bulk of the squad that won in Liberia, with the message being simply ‘go and defend your trophy’. Many of them are now in the professional ranks and have first-team commitments and so they were not be available for the tournament as it is being held outside of the FIFA dates when clubs are not obliged to release their players.
‘However, we have some new faces who have really impressed us during our preparation phase. Squad selection is always extremely tough as a coach, but we wouldn’t have it any other way. The quality and competitiveness in training has been very high and there were another five or six players who could also have taken their place in the squad, but we can only select 20.”
Pa Modou SOHNA of FUS Rabat, who scored the winner in the recent friendly match against the Qatar U-23s, was ultimately not released by his club for the tournament. Senior international Adama JAMMEH of Etoile du Sahel in Tunisia, is currently recovering from injury as well as midfield anchor Alfusainey JATTA, who is now playing in the USA.
Nine of the 20 players selected already have a gold medal in their possession, having won the trophy in 2018 in Liberia. Seven players are currently playing abroad along with thirteen home-based players in the squad.
Amongst the foreign contingent are team captain Basiru Mbye of KV Oostende in Belgium, who lifted the trophy in Liberia, Muhammed Sanneh, who has impressed in Estonia with FC Paide and striker Omar Damba of Sheffield Wednesday in England.
“This team has a strong work-ethic and willingness to learn and develop their game. We enjoy watching them play every match and see them put what they have learnt on the training ground into our matches,”M’Boge said. “We have a clear identity and style of play and our preparations have been extremely well-supported by our Federation. We will do our utmost to defend this trophy we have in the cabinet and bring it back for our country.”
2019 WAFU Zone A U-20 Championship Squad:-
Goalkeepers:- Ebrima CHAM (Gamtel), Lamin SAIDY (Real de Banjul)
Defenders:-Pa Ousman GAI (Banjul United), Muhammed SANNEH (FC Paide, Estonia), Habibou MENDY (Brikama United), James GOMEZ (Real de Banjul), Moses JASSEY (Ports Authority), Modou NDOW (Seattle Sounders II, USA), Modou MANNEH (Brikama United)
Midfielders:-Muhamed KABBA (Ports Authority), Lamin SAIDYKHAN (Fortune), Matarr CEESAY (Casa Sport, Senegal), Tijan MARR (Fortune), Alieu FADERA (Real de Banjul), Momodou CHAM (BK Milan), Abdoulie SARR (Banjul United)
Forwards:-Momodou BOJANG (Casa Sport, Senegal), Buba JAMMEH (Mezo-Kovesdzsory, Hungary), Omar DAMBA (Sheffield Wednesday, England), Basiru MBYE (KV Oostende, Belgium)
The Young Scorpions are already in Conakry and are lodged at the Primus Hotel in the Kaloum district in Conakry, Guinea.