The Scorpions of Gambia on Friday deemed debutantes Bright Stars of South Sudan 5-0 in the most comprehensive victory of the African Youth Championship in Egypt making the Gambians the third country to qualify for the World U20 championships in Indonesia in May this year.
It was a complete routing of the troubled country on the front burner of the United Nations which they will sadly go home and face as no country in Egypt has so been whipped 5-0 with three goals down at the first half.
18 year old Steve Biko FC striker, Adama Bojang who had no goal to his credit before equaled the Hat trick record of Papa Diallo of Senegal scoring in the 7th minute; 33rd minute and 47th minute.
Hat trick is scoring three or more goals in a single match but Bojang born 28th May 2004 was unlucky not to get his 4th goal in the match. Cover photo is that of goal hero Adama Bojang.
Although Moses Jarju supplied the second goal and Mahmudu Bajo also scored to make it 5-0 the glory of the Gambia team is Waa Banjul FC goal tender, Pa Ebou Dampha who is the only goal keeper with a clean slate in the games in Egypt.
Gambia were two times Runner Up of the Championships in 2007 losing to Congo whose only title and best achievement was that year and at the last tournament in MauritaniaGambia equaled the highest defeat ever given to the Bright Stars of South Sudan 0-5 at Maputo by Mozambique on 18th May 2014.
I could not get full gist of the two matches South Sudan played with Gambia but sources said the Bright Stars lost both matches.
We need the statistics of the match as warning for Gambia’s next opponent in the Semifinal, the Flying Eagles. Gambia had 22 shots at goal firing from every angle but 8 of them were actually on target compared to shots of Sudan and only one on target; fleet footed Gambia obviously controlled the space of the game with 67-33% possession, stringing 571 passes with 84 % accuracy in the passes as against 297 of Sudan and 62% accuracy..
Opponents may need a more careful offside trap as Gambia was flagged off 6-1 times; the Gambians forced 5 corner kicks on the Sudanese who earned one corner kick but the Gambians were not gentle in their strive for honors committing 16-13 fouls and bagging the only Yellow card of the game.
The meaning is that Nigeria which faces the crafty Gambians on Monday in the second semifinal at 1800 hours will have to be extra careful for a Scorpion sting that may spell a break in desire to win the 8th title for the Nigerians.
Football pundits are already discussing a Senegal versus Nigeria repeat for the grand finale saying it will be an opportunity for Nigeria to avenge the 0-1 loss in the opening game of Group A.
Congo faces Tunisia at 1800 to determine the last ticket to the Youth Games in May and who meets the Cub Lions of Senegal in the first Semifinal on Monday at 1500 hours.
credit:Eniola Olatunji
