By Arfang M.S. Camara
Mariama Bom Sowe, head coach of The Gambia women’s national team has said that they are coming all out on Wednesday to do what they can to be able to reduce the eight-goal deficit they conceded against the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon during the first leg of the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON) qualifiers in Yaoundé on Friday.
The Gambia suffered an eight-nil bashing in the hands of Cameroon at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaoundé on Friday, with The Gambia’s dream of making it to Morocco 2022 now looking completely impossible.
A brace each from Flora Kameni and Ngo Mbeleck Genevieve and further goals from Nchout Njoya Ajara, Bella Rose, Ewodo Tatiana and Fallone Meffometou meant Mariama Bom Sowe and her girls will simply play the return game in Banjul on Wednesday 23 February for mere formality with a possibility of a comeback now looking out of reach.
“We are not going to abandon everything. It is football and we are going back to Gambia and prepare properly so that we can be able to contain them. We are not saying that we are going to defeat them eight zero as they did today, but we are going all out to do what we can to be able to sustain them. If we cannot get the eight goals, we limit it inside The Gambia,” Coach Bom Sowe said during her post-match interview on Friday.
“I think Cameroon is a better team than The Gambia, looking at their experience and age wise. They are far better than us which is why they were able to score eight goals. They are better than us in all the components.”
“Cameroon is the second best in Africa. Though we conceded eight goals and the return leg is on 23 February (Wednesday), the only thing we can do is that we go back and prepare properly for the return leg.”
Mariama Bom Sowe believes they are in the process of building a solid team for the future.
“We are in the process of developing, though this is the senior national team, we expect to bring in victory but they are young players and have a long way to go in future.”
The Gambia left Cameroon on Saturday morning for The Gambia to prepare for the return game scheduled for Wednesday 23 February in Banjul.