By Muhammed Saidykhan, Freelance Sport Journalist
Sometimes sport throws up stories of human spirit that you cannot help but watch with a warm smile – as Gambia’s first-ever Africa Cup of Nations achievements showcase in Cameroon.
Getting to the last eight of the continent’s biggest football event was quite a surprise for a country that has had its share of struggles.
Gambia has felt a great surge of confidence due to this outing that will help mend some of the difficulties and help Gambia to keep feeling the pride it has always maintained.
Rank outsiders to win any game, the Gambian team repeatedly cited the importance of being a continental beater – a mission statement that we all struggled to believe at first.
However, the conclusion, although painful for the Gambia, provided a fairytale ending to a gloriously unpredictable tournament.
This is a year (2022) that will ring for eternity in our history. Nonetheless it was a fairytale ending many celebrated beyond borders, but again the success had set a new challenge for all those you have a stake in our sport development.
But crucially, Gambia also had a talented pool of talents to back up our new found courage – for all the understandable talk, there is otherwise surely only so far mental strength can take.
