Gambia equal 2007 record as U20 side beats Tunisia to clinch Bronze

Impressive Gambian winger Wally Fofana surrounded by Tunisian players

Abdoulie Bah reporting…

Gambia was crowned CAF’s U20 African Bronze medalists for the second time in their history with a 4-2 penalty shootout victory over Tunisia in a hard-fought third place play-off match in Nouakchott this evening.

Goalkeeper Lamin Saidy redeemed himself after an opening match howler against Morocco to guide the young scorpions with two impressive saves in the shootouts to now equal the country’s feat in the same tournament from Congo Brazzaville, 2007.

Substitute Adama Kanteh stepped up to slot home the winning penalty following a very niggling and at times drab stalemate in the 90, to cap off a memorable tournament for the team in front of a largely empty stadium.

There were other fantastic performances notably a comeback victory over finalists Ghana in the group stages and a dominant display to knock out Central African Republic in the quarterfinals. 

With FIFA opting to call off the World Cup for the U20s due to the many strains caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Mattar M’Boge and his lads may be forgiven for feeling a little dampened in missing out on a likely once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to showcase themselves beyond the continental stage. Nonetheless, the already much-celebrated WAFU Zone A Cup champions would still expect to be feted once more, with the sports ministry representative in Mauritania Marcel Mendy being quoted earlier today promising more handsome rewards in store for the team if they laid their hands on the bronze trophy. And delivered they did. Skipper Tijan Marr won the MoTM gong following in the footsteps of midfield partner and player of the tournament contender Lamarana Jallow.