Gambia U-17 Team To Arrive This Afternoon From UK

Barely a week before the start of the much-talked about FIFA U-17 World Cup final in Nigeria, The Gambia’s U-17 will today arrive at the Banjul International Airport between 1pm- 2pm after undergoing three-week intensive training camp in the United Kingdom.

The two time Africa U-17 champions that is expected to make their second World Cup debut in a week time will land in Banjul today, according to the sources close to the Gambia Football Association and the actual time is believed to be between 1pm- 2pm today.

The Baby Scorpions as they are affectionately called were involved in a total of 6 warm-up matches in the U.K, losing two and winning four with an impressive scoring record of 11 goals.

Meanwhile, Coach Tarik Siagy, is expected to select his final 21-man squad out of a total of 26 that make up the U.K training camp.

If the word of the President of the Gambia Football Association, Seedy M.B Kinteh, is anything to lean on, the Baby Scorpions will make a courtesy call on the Gambian leader, President Yahya Jammeh, at the nation’s highest office in State House before proceeding to Nigeria where the big event is scheduled to take place.

The Baby Scorpions that hosted and won its first Africa U-17 championship title after outclassing Ghana one-nil-in the final played in Banjul, courtesy of Striker Ousman Jallow’s controversial second half strike in 2005, will be without the services of stars like goalkeeper, Ousman Darboe, Abdou Njie, Abdoulie [Aimar] Jatta, Alasan Camara, Baboucarr Jammeh, alias Mal, Famara Bojang, amongst others, all of whom, had played an influential role in helping the team secure another historic  moments as they won their second Africa U-17 Championship title after thumping the host Algeria 3-1 recently.

The team needs to remain focused if they are to replicate the form that has made them the best in Africa when they kicked-off the FIFA U-17 World Cup campaign on Sunday 25^th October 2009, against Iran before entertaining their second and toughest opponent Neitherland on Wednesday 8^th October.

The rejuvenated U-17 sides will wrap-up their group fixtures with a game against Colombia on October 31^st.