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Gambia Team Page

Squad

Coach: Peter Bonu Johnson

Roster: Christopher Allen, Kebba Bah, Mandou Bojang, Suruwa Bojang, Abdou Ceesay, Abdourahman Dampha, Joseph Gomez, Pierre Gomez, Pa Modou Jagne, Tijan Jaiteh, Ousman Jallow, Ebrima Jatta, Paul Jatta, Abdoulie Mansally, Furmus Mendy, Alagie Ngum, Modou Ngum, Sainey Nyassi, Sanna Nyassi, Ebrima Sohna

Scouting Report

Strengths: Gambia is full of confidence after qualifying for its first U-20 World Cup. Gambia enjoyed a brilliant run at the 2007 African Youth Championship when it reached the semifinals of the prestigious tournament. The team plays with a fighting spirit and level of solidarity that inspires them in their up-tempo, quick-passing style of soccer. Opposing teams will be hard-pressed to keep up with a Gambia team that is always running.

Weaknesses: Obviously, the Africans lack experience, as this summer marks their debut at the U-20 World Cup. Defence is also an issue. The team looked well organized at the back during the African Youth Championship, but gave up three goals against a very athletic Nigeria in the semifinals. They can expect similar defensive problems in Canada. They also lack a proven goal scorer and have a tendency to waste their scoring chances.

Player to watch: Ousmane Jallow was the top scorer at the 2007 African Youth Championship, netting three of his side's seven goals. Blessed with power and a good first touch in front of goal, Jallow is expected to lead the Gambian team as it makes its debut this summer at the FIFA U-20 World Cup.

Prognosis: Like several other of the first-timers in this tournament, Gambia has been drawn into a difficult group. Mexico and Portugal are two of the pre-tournament favourites and should have little trouble in brushing aside the upstart Africans. New Zealand is another team making its U-20 World Cup debut in Canada, but the Kiwis won't just roll over and play dead against Gambia. Scoring goals is going to be a major problem for the Africans, so it's very hard to see them even claiming a spot in the second round as one of the four third-place teams. Gambia will put forth a valiant effort, but they'll be heading home after the first round.

ROAD TO THE U-20 WORLD CUP

2007 qualification route: Gambia locked up a spot in this summer's tournament by finishing third at the 2007 African Youth Championship in February.

Qualifying record: 11 games played, 7 wins, 1 loss, 3 draws

Goals for: 19 Goals against: 7

Top goal-scorer in qualifying (final tournament only): Ousman Jallow (3)

Qualifying results:

Initial qualifier

Preliminary round (two-legged match)

Aug. 16, 29, 30, 2006 – Sierra Leone 1-1, 0-4 Gambia (1-5 on aggregate)

Round 1 (two-legged match)

Aug. 4-6 and 18-20, 2006 – Morocco 2-2, 0-2 Gambia (2-4 on aggregate)

Round 2 (two-legged match)

Oct. 1, 2006 – Mali 1, Gambia 1

Oct. 22, 2006 – Mali 1, Gambia 2 (Gambia wins 2-3 on aggregate)

Final tournament (all games in Congo)

Group play (A)

Jan. 20, 2007 – Gambia 2, Burkina Faso 0

Jan. 23, 2007 – Congo 0, Gambia 1

Jan. 26, 2007 – Ivory Coast 0, Gambia 1

Semifinals

Jan. 30, 2007 – Gambia 0, Nigeria 1

Third-place match

Feb. 2, 2007 – Gambia 3, Zambia 1

U-20 World Cup 1st round matches (all times local)

July 2 vs. Mexico in Toronto (BMO Field) at 17:00

July 5 vs. New Zealand in Toronto (BMO Field) at 17:00

July 8 vs. Portugal in Montreal (Olympic Stadium) at 17:15

U-20 WORLD CUP HISTORY

Canada 2007 will be Gambia's debut at the U-20 World Cup. Gambia's senior men's national team has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup or the African Nations Cup.

Number of previous U-20 World Cup Appearances: 0

Hosted the U-20 World Cup: never

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