The Gambia U-20 Team will take on their equivalents from Guinea Conakry tomorrow in the third and final round of the African Youth Championship qualifiers with a place in Zambia 2017 at stake.
The Gambia, seeking a third appearance at the continental showpiece event, after qualifications in 2007 and 2011, will rely mainly on the influence of star player and Captain Ablie Jallow.
The Generation Foot midfielder, on loan from Real de Banjul, has been unarguably the best Gambian player throughout the four-month qualifying campaign and his deft touch, surging runs and killer passes are already attracting interest from clubs outside the continent, mainly in Belgium.
Despite being the most important player in the team, there are others who’ve had a huge say in The Gambia’s wins over Sierra Leone and Morocco in the previous stages of the qualifiers. One such player is Bun Sanneh, Jallow’s teammate at both Generation Foot and Real de Banjul.
Bun has equally been a key player for the team and his playmaking skills were dearly missed in the goalless stalemate with Guinea as a result of his rare bad day in office. If the Brikama native can have a good game tomorrow, Gambia is within a great chance of securing a place in the biennial for the first time in six years.
With two goals in the qualifiers, Pa Omar Jobe is The Gambia’s leading scorer in the competition and is one of the players with the ability to unlock a resolute Guinea side. A product of Nawettan football, the battling striker has the ability to unlock any defense on his day and his contribution in helping his side defending in difficult circumstances has also made him a darling of gambling??? and supporters.
With Radio Gambia’s Essa Sowe already on the ground in Conakry, the state broadcaster will air live commentaries of this crucial game on 106.7 and 98.6 on fm.
Kickoff is 4pm Gambian time.