By Arfang M.S Camara
The Gambia Under-20 team have qualified to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Egypt after defeating Mali 4-2 in a post-match penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw in the regulation time played at the Stade Sheikha Boidiya on Friday.
The Malians opened the scoring in the 23rd minute of the first half, before Alieu Gibba levelled the game for the Young Scorpions in the 83rd minute of the second half to force the game into a penalty shootout.
Abdoulie Bojang, head coach of the Gambia expressed delight for meeting their first target in the WAFU Zone A tournament by qualifying to the U-20 Afcon tournament in Egypt regardless of the outcome of yesterday’s final.
Meanwhile, the president of the Gambia Football Federation (GFF), Lamin Kaba Bajo, congratulated the national U-20 team for securing another spot in the Africa Cup of Nations tournament.
“I congratulate The Gambia National U-20 Team, including the players and technical staff for securing a place in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, secured after a WAFU Cup semi-final defeat of Mali on Saturday,” said President Bajo in a statement.
According to him, the team’s achievements are a reflection of the growth of the domestic league with the majority of the players plying their trade locally.
This is the fourth time that The Gambia U-20 team are qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations tournament, which they won two of the editions before yesterday’s final.
