By Sulayman Bah
Gambia home-based Scorpions were Tuesday evening tied to a draw
against GFF top flight outfit Armed Forces.
Held at the Independence Stadium 7pm a break away from tradition4:30pm kick-off, the national team under Bonu Johnson and Matarr Mbogeflagship grinded out of a one-all stalemate against local side Armed
Forces.
The test match ahead of this Friday face-off with the Mourabitounes of
Mauritania offers the team tacticians a window of opportunity to put the final
touches to their preparations.
A provisional list of twenty-eight players has been drafted as the
team kick-start camping yesterday at the Sea View Hotel. Bonu and
Matarr will further trim the current number to be revealed at least
hours prior to the Mauritania fixture.
The Scorpions have been out of competition after failing to book a
place in the U-23 and African Cup of Nations preliminary qualifiers
due to suspension for age-cheating. The ban has long been rescinded
and Friday’s showdown will be Gambia’s first international appearance
after one year six months.
The test game will aim not only to resurrect Gambia football but
prepare the scorpions for the oncoming CHAN qualifiers.
Mauritania are no minnows after beating the Scorpions in one of the
two-legged friendly tie in Banjul in 2013. They ejected Gambia out of
the 2008 CHAN based on away goal rule after settling for one-all
affair in Banjul and a drab nil-nil score in Nouakchott in the
return-leg.]]>
