By Sulayman Bah
National team coach Sang Ndong has described Gambia’s 2019 Nations Cup qualification draw as ‘fair’.
The Senior Scorpions are pitted with Algeria, Benin and Togo in group D.
Algeria are no strangers to Gambia while Togo and Benin are outfits the Scorpions have never before met in any senior qualification.
And reacting after being made public what teams his side faces, Sang Ndong terms Gambia’s group as ‘fair’ and ‘not bad’.
‘It think it is not a bad draw. It is a fair draw compare to our last campaigns,’ Sang, who’d overseen four qualifier games as Gambia’s manager since replacing Swiss Raoul Savoy last year, says.
The Scorpions boasts of an array of talents but have always fallen short of progressing to a Nations Cup final with poor preparations including lack of test games a major factor.
And aware of this, Sang has urged Gambia Football Federation to back the team.
‘We need the support of GFF and all concerned. If you look at the grouping, there are moments that we have intervals so we have to play test games in those intervals to prepare the team. We have to be prepared and in preparing, we need the support of GFF to accord us test matches. We are building a team and this started since the last qualifiers. We were able to see some of the players. However we need funding to support the team with friendly matches,’ the erstwhile Hawks gaffer who’s in his second stint as national team tactician tells Foroyaa Sport.
Gambia begins the quest to reach the 2019 Afcon to be hosted by Cameroon, away to Benin June 13th 2017 before playing the second fixture against Algeria in Banjul nine months later, 19th March 2018 at the Independence Stadium.
The third game will be away to Togo 3rd September 2018.
The Scorpions host Togo eight days later which would then see Benin return visit to Banjul October 8th 2018.
Sang Ndong would then be expected to the lead the Gambia again in the country’s final clash in Algiers against the Desert Foxes of Algeria.
