The Scorpions of The Gambia suffered their worst defeat at home since the opening of the Independence Stadium in 1984, according to the legendary Pap Saine, following the Gambian side’s 4-0 loss to Bafana Bafana of South Africa on Saturday.
The performance was insipid and shambolic; Sang Ndong’s team played without any identity at the Independence Stadium despite a bright opening ten minutes.
This was the penultimate round of the 2017 African Cup of Nations qualifiers and the crushing defeat ensured the Scorpions, on two points, would now finish bottom of the four-team group. The group consists of Cameroon, who are already through with ten points; Mauritania on seven points and Bafana with six points.
The Gambia could’ve opened the scorings in the first minute when Bubacarr Trawally, the Scorpions’ best player by far, headed over from just six yards away after some brilliant play on the left side of the field by Lamin Jallow. The Scorpions missed another great chance on the quarter hour mark after some nervy Bafana defending but the visitors turned defence into attack. While Keagan Dolly missed a glourious opportunity in the 16th minute, Thamsanqa Gabuza was denied by Alagie Nyabally in the Gambian goal two minutes later.
From that point, it was a one-way traffic. After Bakary Njie, Bully Drammeh and Trawally all missed decent chances, Gabuza of the Bafana Bafana responded with a delightful onetime finish after he was fed by the impressive Dolly on the half hour mark. Gabuza scored his second in the 39th minute after another good play by Dolly.
When the teams reemerged from the dressing room for the second period, Musa Yaffa was brought on in place of the poor Kaba Sambou who was caught napping for the second goal, but the substitution failed to inspire the Scorpions.
Steve Trawally almost pulled a goal back after a solo run from deep into his own half but following some brilliant play, his goal-bound effort was saved by the spreading legs of goalkeeper and Captain Etumeleng Khune five minutes into the restart.
That miss proved costly as the South Africans put the game to bed five minutes later when a fierce shot from the impressive Dolly flew past Nyabally in goal for a 3-0 lead.
Bakary Njie went off to a standing ovation for his tireless efforts in the 65th minute but Bafana would have the final say of this game when Dolly, set to spearhead South Africa’s assault on the 2016 Olympics in Rio, scored from another thunderous strike that came off the box to put the final nail in the Scorpions’ coffin with 10 minutes remaining.
by Baboucarr Camara