End of the road for Gambia and Co at WAFU Cup as Senegal face free-scoring Malians in final.

Disappointing exit for the Gambia at the first-ever WAFU Zone A women’s tournament

By Abdoulie Bah

Gambia’s women, who had carried the nation’s football hopes through the first week of the maiden West African Football Union (WAFU) Zone A tournament, were left empty-handed after losing a big decider in their third match at the Wassum Sports stadium in Mekeni, Sierra Leone.  

After a thumping 5-2 recovery win over Guinea Bissau in their second match earlier, Adama Tamba and co were undone by goals from Kantie Sayee and Margaret Stuart in the 1st and 13th minute respectively against Liberia on Monday.

Gambia’s record goal scorer Adama Tamba - as she so often does - scored on the hour mark for Mariama Bom Sowe’s side to provoke hopes of a comeback but it was too little too late for the team that had traveled to the tournament with massive hopes.

Victory meant Liberia joined table toppers Mali who dispatched off Guinea Bissau 2-0 in yesterday’s semifinals of the women’s football competition. The free-scoring Malian attack went on to demolish Cape Verde from the other group 4-0, while in Bo Senegal narrowly got the job done finishing 2-1 winners over 2-1 over Liberia. Just like the Gambia girls, Sierra Leone crashed out of the competition in the group stage on home soil.

The two most tremendous sides from day one Mali and Senegal deservedly play in the final with both having points to prove as West African Zone A football’s superpowers.