Put won’t blame Scorpions

Gambia coach Belgian Paul Put would not blame his players after their 1-0 defeat by Algeria in Blida on Friday in matchday four of the joint qualifiers for the 2010 World and African Nations Cup qualifier campaign.

Anther Yahia’s first-half header fetched the Desert Foxes the whole three points, and in effect inflict the first defeat on Gambia Scorpions in the combined qualifier. The result saw Gambia slip to third spot in the standings while Algeria moved to the second spot on six points. Senegal who beat Liberia 3-1 in Dakar on Saturday, regain the top spot on eight points.

Despite the set-back, Paul Put told Gambiasports.gm that the Scorpions did their best under what he described as “difficult circumstances”.

“The Algerians provoked us,” Put said, “and unfortunately the boys lost concentration.”

“The boys played very well and I hope people in the Gambia are not too disappointed with the result,” he said.

“We will return home and start working towards our last two matches (at home against Liberia in September Banjul at away to Senegal in October].

“I hope the GFA can get us one warm up match against a high caliber African team like Guinea.”

The build-up to the game was marred by accusation and counter accusation from the two football associations.

The Gambia Football Association reported to the football’s world governing body about a terror threats made to Ousman Jallow during Banjul first-leg. The Algerian official dismissed the allegations, yet FIFA had to appoint its own security officer to coordinate the security matters.

However, the presence of Egyptian Mr Amr Shaheen as FIFA security officer on the day did little to avert any form maltreatment from the host nation, who played with extreme hostility against the visiting Scorpions.