By Sulayman Bah
Gambia has gotten drawn along with heavyweights Cameroon, South Africa
and Mauritania a draw the Gambia Football Federation considers good.
The Scorpions found themselves pooled in Group M along with the indomitable Lions of Cameroon, the Bafana Bafana and Mauritania’s Mourabitounes –a seeding many view as tough.The West African nation has never qualified for the Nations Cup.
Optimism has been however high particularly this time of a possible
chance to secure a place in the continent’s prestigious footballing
occasion until draws held in Cairo had Gambia pitted with established
oppositions.
However, a Gambia Football Federation top official has refused to be
fazed insisting, the Scorpions, who have been out of international
action until recently, can defy the odds.
Ebou Faye told Foroyaa Sport yesterday afternoon: ‘The draw is good
for us. Of course the teams we are in the group with are big teams and
have experience and have been to the tournaments many times. Cameroon
in particular have won it likewise South Africa have seen actions
there. The other team is coming up. Why not? The draw is good for
us’
‘For one to make it’ he dwelled on ‘Gambia must play the big teams and
the big teams are there to be played. We are building a big good team
and certainly we will get there.’
Gambia tees off its campaign for the 31st Afcon edition 12th, 13th or
14th June away in Johannesburg before taking on Cameroon at the
Independence Stadium September 4th, 5th or 6th 2015.
The other two legs will be to host South Africa in Banjul slated for
the 3rd, 4th and 5th June, 2016 while the final and decisive leg is
away to Cameroon in Yaoundé schedule for the weekend of 2nd 3rd and
4th September, 2015. The winner and the second best in the group will book a
ticket in Gabon.
The CHAN and CAN qualifiers will be running simultaneously.
Meanwhile, following the home-based players 1-0 win over Mauritania in
a friendly two weeks ago, Gambian has jumped 12 places in FIFA’s April
ranking unveiled yesterday morning to 156 in the world and 45 in the
continent.]]>
