By: Momodou Justice Darboe
The Gambia has been gripped by football fever in the past few days as the nation’s team engages neighbors today in Africa’s flagship championship.
The Scorpions of The Gambia and Teranga Lions of Senegal will on Monday battle it out in their first encounter as they chase their championship title dream in the continental soccer jamboree currently taking place in the Ivory Coast.
Some local radio and television stations started playing patriotic and rallying songs days before the encounter today to whip the nation to rally behind their national team as aspirations for national glory burned in the hearts of many citizens and friends of The Gambia, living in the country and outside.
Gambians are today united by football and all their prayers lead to one direction and that is victory for the Scorpions.
The Gambia’s participation in AFCON has also seen a rise in demand for replica Scorpions’ jerseys and other kits.
The mood in many parts of the country has been eager anticipation, suspense, and expectation of a miracle in today’s game.
It could be recalled that Senegal won The Gambia 13 times and they drew 10 times. Their first meeting was on 18 February 1980 in the Amilcar Cabral championship and Senegal won 1 nil. The Teranga Lions also won the Scorpions 1 nil in an AFCON qualifying match on 4 July 2015.
Meanwhile, the only time when The Gambia came close to defeating Senegal was on 2 January 1984, when they drew 2-2 in an international friendly. Another high point for The Gambia was on 11 October 2008, when it shared one goal apiece with the Lions in the Fifa World Cup qualifiers.
