By Arfang M.S Camara
The Gambia U-23 team will today, on Monday fly out of the country to Cotonou, Benin ahead of their first leg encounter against Burkina Faso in the qualifiers of the Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations tournament.
The Scorpions of The Gambia will take on the Stallions of Burkina Faso on Wednesday, 21st September 2022, in Cotonou, Benin.
Due to their poor standards of stadiums, both The Gambia and Burkina Faso will play their home games in the qualifiers away. With Burkina Faso playing their home games in Benin, while The Gambia will play their home matches in Morocco respectively.
Abdou Jammeh has yesterday, on Sunday released his final 24-man Gambia U-23 squad ahead of the Burkina Faso double-legged ties on September 21 and 27 in Benin and in Morocco respectively. The list include 12 foreign-based players.
T-Boy would be assisted by ex-Scorpion Bowyer Gibba (Abdou Njie) and Modou Lamin Nyassi with another former Gambian international Christopher Allen serving as the goalkeeper coach and ex-Man United and Gambia striker Arthur Gomez serving as the Team Manager.
Meanwhile, The Gambia U-23 recorded a 2-1 win over a selection of local and foreign-based players on Friday afternoon at the Independence Stadium in Bakau.
Abdoulie Manneh opened the scoring for the Scorpions U-23 team in the 24 minutes, before Alieu Barry doubled their lead in the 78 minutes of the second half.
Coach Abdou Jammeh who has a good preparatory test matches against the Selection of local players will aim to transform those results in their qualifying matches.
The President of The Gambia Football Federation (GFF) Mr. Lamin Kaba Bajo who visited the team after their final test game on Friday, assured the team of his executive’s unflinching support.
“I want to assure you that we’re doing everything possible to make sure that you progress to the next round and even get qualification. We’ve no doubt that you’re in capable hands from the head coach to the team manager and everyone else,” Bajo asserted.
For his part, Head Coach Abdou Jammeh thanked the GFF leadership for the support and guidance while assuring him of his team’s commitment to defend the country’s colours.
The final 24-man squad are:
Goalkeepers are: Lamin Saidy of Real de Banjul; Lamin Sarr of UMEA in Sweden and Modou L. Jammeh of Falcons.
Defenders are: Habibou Mendy of Brikama United; Ebou Camara of Waa Banjul; Mamadou Bah of Team Rhino; Modou Camara of Hawks and Modou Manneh of Real de Banjul.
Midfielders are: Peter Sambou of GPA; Sheikh Omar Faye of ASC Jarraf in Senegal; Samba Jallow of Real de Banjul; Abdoulie Manneh of Wallidan; Assan Badjie of Team Rhino and Lamarana Jallow of Sporting CP in Portugal.
Forwards are: Foday Trawally of JK Tillin in Estonia; Jesper Ismaila Ceesay of AIK in Sweden; Momodou Bojang of Hibernian in Scotland; Wally Fofana of KVC Westerlo in Belgium; Musa Juwara of Bologna in Italy; Mustapha Beyai of PK 35 in Finland; Lamin Jarjou of Al Helal in Sudan; Foday Darboe of Paide in Estonia and Buba Jammeh of Interclube in Angola.
