Gambia tackle Gabon in Paris today

The Gambia Scorpions will take on Gabon Black Panthers in an international football  friendly today in Paris, France. The game, according to Sweden-based striker Aziz Corr Nyan, will kick-off at 15:30 France time, which is 14:30 hours in Banjul.

With Gabon using the clash to test their readiness for the 2010 World Cup qualifiers, which resume in March, the Scorpions’  coach Paul Put is hoping that the friendly will help to expose the Gambian talents to the top European clubs having narrowly missed out on a spot in the joint qualifying series.

The Belgian, who was recently rewarded with a four-year contract extension by the Gambia government, has called up all his top stars for the encounter with the exception of veteran forward Ebou Sillah who is presently nursing an injury and England-based forward Edrissa Sonko. The Denmark-based strikers Ousman Jallow and Njogu Demba are expected to be Paul Put’s favoured partners, while Mustapha Jarju, Aziz Corr Nyan, Ebrima Sohna, Pa Saikou Kujaba and SK Lierse’s new trialist, Abdou Jammeh, should also figure prominently in the Gambia government sponsored game.

Injury-prone Momodou Ceesay, who has since earned a new lease of life in Belgium after a devastating knee injury, is also expected to get his first chance to shine with the Scorpions today.