By Sulayman Bah
Gambia U-20s yesterday evening qualified for the African Youth Championship beating Morocco on post-match penalties.
The young Atlast Lions raced into the lead with their strike whipping in a deadly left-footed bomb past goalkeeper Baboucarr Ceesay’s after the Gambian defence had wrongly judged the forward offside.
Yesterday post-match which ensured the team’s ticket to next year’s Lusaka’s event, ignites Gambian fans’ hopes especially during turbulent times when the senior Scorpions are faltering.
The Young Scorpions’ qualification had been expected according to many given they’ve had better and longer preparation for the qualifiers.
Gaffer Omar Sise’s charges first dumped Sierra Leone home and away before sending the North African side packing.
Morocco’s exit followed captain Ismail Ben Kitb’s scuffing of his spot-kick.
Gambia’s first qualification in the U-20s African Youth Championship spans back in 2008 when Coach Bonu Johnson led the team in Congo Brazzaville where they later reached the World up in Toronto.
In 2011, hopes had been high before the team, then under late tactician Lamin Sarr, crashed out of the AYC in the group stage in Johannesburg.
