| FIFA
U-17 World Cup
Let's win for Africa!
…Gambia urges Nigeria,
Algeria, Malawi
By MONICA
IHEAKAM
Monday, August 17, 2009
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•Photo:
Sun News Publishing
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Under-17 African champions, Gambia, who are among the four
African countries to compete in the FIFA Under-17 World Cup
Championship, have promised to win the Cup for the African
continent.
Gambia’s Football Association official, Jammy Bojani
said recently after the draw that they would do their best
for the Cup to stay in Africa.
The Under-17 World Cup Championship kicks-off in October in
Nigeria and winds up in November. Following the draw, which
was held in Nigeria, who are also the hosts, Gambia are in
Group C with Asian Under-16 champions, Iran, Colombia and
The Netherlands.
Bojani said the country had made strides with her football
following her ‘Catch them young policy.
"We know it will be tough, but we promise Africa the
best and to win the Cup. There are also other African countries
who can do better," said Bojani.
Other African countries, who are also participating in the
tournament, include Malawi, Burkina Faso, Algeria and host,
Nigeria.
Malawi’s Under-17 are in Group E alongside USA, Spain
and United Arab Emirates, whereas Nigeria are in Group A,
which has been described as "the group of death"
and has Nigeria, Germany, Argentina and Honduras.
Burkina Faso are in Group D with Turkey, Costa Rica and New
Zealand, whereas Algeria are in Group F, which also has Uruguay,
South Korea and Italy.
Nigeria will open the tournament on October 24 against Germany
in Abuja.
Gambia have emerged as one of the new powerhouses of junior
football in Africa, qualifying now for their third FIFA finals.
It is a remarkable achievement for Gambia, whose senior side
and club teams have barely made any impression on the African
landscape.
It will be the second time in the last three tournaments that
a Gambian side had participated at the FIFA Under-17 World
Cup. They were at the 2005 event in Peru in what was a massive
breakthrough for Gambian football and a significant event
in the footballing history of the nation. Two years later,
the Gambian Under-20 side qualified for the FIFA Under-20
World Cup in Canada, astounding pundits by making it past
the first round.
Admittedly, Gambia did not participate at the CAF Under-17
Championships in Algeria in March, but that does not take
away from the achievement of the ‘Baby Scorpions’.
They certainly had a sting in their tail as they sailed through
the preliminaries and set the championships in Dar El Beida
and Zeralda alive.
En route to the continental tournament, Gambia's victims included
Ghana, perennial challengers for honours at Under-17 level,
who they narrowly defeated on the away goal rule in the final
preliminary round.
In Group B, Gambia won all three of their opening round games
without conceding a goal and had qualified for the FIFA Under-17
World Cup by the time they reached the semi-finals. But they
were not finished yet and scored a 4–0 win over Malawi
to book a meeting with the hosts in the final. Gambia had
already beaten Algeria 2–0 in the group stage and emphasised
their superiority with a 3–1 triumph in the final, including
two goals from Ebrima Bojang, taking his tournament tally
to five in as many matches.
Thousands of people lined up to greet the team back in the
country after their success, including the Gambian president
and senior ministers in acknowledgement of what a massive
achievement it was for the sport in the country.
Gambia are planning a tour of England in early September to
ensure they properly prepare for the FIFA Under-17 World Cup.
The Gambia FA seek to follow the pattern established in 2005
before their first appearance at a FIFA tournament when their
Under-17 side then also toured the British isles and warmed
up with some quality practice matches against tough opposition
before heading to Peru.
Coach Tariq Saigy has also been handed the option of adding
to the squad that won the African championship, as there are
several new possible contenders that have been unearthed among
the Gambian Diaspora in Europe. He will make a final decision
after running his eye over the potential candidates in friendly
matches against the likes of Nigeria and Senegal in the coming
weeks.
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