By Arfang M.S. Camara
The Gambia national senior team (Scorpions) will open their maiden Africa Cup of Nations tournament today (Wednesday) when they squared off against Mauritania in Group F at the Limbe Omnisport Stadium at 4pm.
The match is seen as the clash between two of the most inexperienced sides at the Africa Cup of Nations.
The Scorpions are all set to make their tournament debut with this game, having secured a historic maiden qualification, while the Lions of Chinguetti have qualified for only the second time in history, having made their tournament debut in the 2019 edition in Egypt.
They bowed out in the group stages without a single win and will be hoping for a better result here, although it won’t be easy against the group’s big guns, Tunisia and Mali.
Mauritania vs Gambia Head-To-Head
The sides have clashed 20 times in history, with Mauritania winning on five occasions and losing eight times.
However, their last meeting, coming in March 2016 for an AFCON qualifier, ended in a goalless stalemate.
Gambia
Bologna forward Musa Barrow is the biggest star in the Scorpions’ similarly inexperienced squad.
The side’s all-time appearance-maker Pa Modou Jagne has also been called up.
Barrow may be joined by Assan Ceesay, the top-scorer in the Gambian team with 11 goals in 20 games, in the attack.
Mauritania
The Lions of Chinguetti have called up a young and inexperienced 28-man squad for the tournament, headlined by former Fulham striker Aboubakar Kamara.
Head coach Didier Da Rosa has also included a 16-year-old player in his team, Beyatt Lekweiry.
Babacar Diop, Mbacke Ndiay and Mohamed El Mokhtar are some of the local players called up to the squad.