Gambia’s Wafu hopes hang in balance after Senegal defeat

The Gambia Under 20 team last night suffered a shock 0-2 defeat in the hands of Senegal in Group B’s match-day-two of the Wafu Cup Championships holding in Nigeria.

Two-second half goals from substitute Baboucarr Sarr and Omar Wade revived Senegal’s hopes in the 16-team youth event, while Gambia’s hopes of progressing to the quarter-final now skate on a thin iceberg.

Knowing that a successive defeat will send them packing, Senegal approached last night’s fixture with great urgency. But the Young Lions were kept at bay throughout the first interval by the Darling Scorpions who had themselves to blame for squandering the few chances that could have spared them in the first 30 minute.

Unfamiliar strike duo Ousman Jagne and Cherno Njie were all closed to an opener as they got set up by versatile midfielder, Saihou Gassama whose brilliant display in the Gambian midfield made him an overnight hero to the cheering Nigerian fans. However, a relatively Gambia-dominated first half paved way for an improved Senegal side in the second half.

In the 57th minute, Alagie Sarr brought in Momodou Lamin Sillah and Ebrima Bojang for George Cole and Ousman Jagne respectively, but despite the reinforcement in front line, it was Senegal who later found the net just five minutes later.

Substitute Baboucarr Sarr spent only seven minutes on the pitch before he opened the score with a fascinating range shot and Omar Wade’s solo effort in the 85th minute ended any doubt on how the evening would end at the Jay Jay Okocha Stadium in Delta State.

The Senegal’s tormentor-in-chief, Wade, did not have any trouble in beating defender Lamin  Samateh before dashing the ball past  helpless goalkeeper Nyabally, after all the Gambians, but rocky defender Samateh, had gone up in search of an equalizer.

Forward Wade, who was already on a yellow card, went ahead to earn himself a red card after he removed his shirt to celebrate the goal that only tightened Senegal’s grip on the lead.

Speaking to Observer Sports shortly after match, disappointed coach Alagie Sarr said: “We have to be frank to ourselves. This team have a problem. The attitude in the camp has just changed over night simply because some of the players want to spend the Tobaski in the Gambia. Others are also having their minds on the allowances the GFA promised to send to them while in Nigeria.”

The Scorpions can still make it to the quarter-final stage if they beat Ghana [who have already qualified after a 2-1 win over Guinea on the same day] and hope that the group’s other match between Senegal and Guinea goes their way tomorrow [Thursday], but Alagie Sarr is pessimistic of going any further in the competition.

“We cannot make it with this sort of attitude in our camp. For the past two days everybody tends to do things they way they want it. I think the players want an early exit so that they can spend the [Tobaski] feast with their families in the Gambia,” he concluded.