Two times African Youth Championship Bronze, The Young Scorpions of Gambia on Friday at the Herras El-Hedoud Stadium in Egypt put on a superlative performance stinging the hopeful Zambian junior team by two goals to nothing qualifying for the quarterfinals and emerging the only team in the group to score two goals in a match.
CAF U20: Flying Eagles redeem glory pecks Pharaohs of Egypt 1-0
Super skipper, Alagie Saine who scored the only goal against Tunisia in the 84th minute again scored a good penalty in the 81st minute to ‘kill’ the hopes of the Zambians for Gambia’s second goal after Cape Town City attacker, Kajally Drammeh had scored the match opener in the 63rd minute. Saine is in reckoning with Papa Amadou Dialllo of Senegal and Paul America of South Sudan as highest goal scorers with two goals each
Cover Photo is that of the Gambian Coach, Abdoulie Boojang.
Gambia has qualified for the quarterfinals with 6 points (second to so do from match two after Senegal); Benin is second with 2 points; Tunisia and Zambia has a point each.
Match statistics were so close in every department of the game may be with one or two pints differences.
It was gathered that the initial venue for group C matches, Alexandria Stadium was changed after one of the teams in Group C who are scheduled to play at the venue officially protested about the standard of the pitch. The new venue is actually close to Alexandria Stadium.
The last group C matches will be played simultaneously on Monday at 1800 hours with Tunisia and Zambia fighting for who goes home for a win is important while Gambia will attempt to roast the Junior Squirrels for dinner after the match.
Tomorrow Saturday, the last group matches will start in group A with the Flying Eagles of Nigeria waiting to show the Champions stuff having won the title record seven times against struggling Mozambique while Cub Lions of Senegal that has already qualified for the quarterfinals with two wins, one over Nigeria, will face hosts Egypt who needs at least a draw to have hopes of qualification. Both matches will be played at 1800 hours.
Eniola Olatunji reporting.
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