By: Baboucarr Fallaboweh
The Gambia U20 booked their world cup ticket following a 5-0 win against South Sudan. The Young scorpions joined Senegal, Nigeria, to secure access to the global youth tournament slated for Indonesia in May.
The Gambia is returning to the competition for the first time since 2007.
They qualified for the 2021 edition in the same country, which was canceled due to Covid19 pandemic.
Pa Landing Conateh, whose last-minute grasp goal against Congo took the Gambia U20 to the world cup in Canada in 2007, spoke exclusively to TAT Sports and football agent Scout Modou Lamin Beyai.
Pa Landing, who was instrumental in the qualifier and the African Youth cup, told the TAT sports desk that it is a great honor for the Young Scorpions to compete with the best at the youth level.
“World cup is nice; You have to be there to feel the vibes. You will get the experience. Meet with teams with a different philosophy. What Lie Bojang achieve is incredible; it’s his and the boy’s chance now. He has played all his life without reaching the world cup. Today is incredible. It’s a one-time experience; if you have it, take it.”
Dagie, as he fondly called it, also advised young scorpions ahead of the world cup. “If you don’t have good advice, you will miss it. Because there are lots of agents out there.”
Ken Mansally and Sanna Nyassi went to America straight after the world cup, where the Gambia advance to the round of 16, beating New Zealand and Portugal in the group stages.
The Gambia enjoyed a good spell in Youth Category from 2005-2007, going to the U17 world cup in Peru, followed by the U20 World Cup in Canada in 2007.
Between 2018-2023 the U20 won the WAFU A U20 in 2018 and 2020 and also finished 3rd in the AFCON U20 in 2021 before reaching back-to-back semifinals.
Modou Lamin Beyai of Modustic Sports management & PR is in Egypt for the AFCON U20, his second time, and told TAT Sports that the team has what it takes to go far.
“I believe this team can go far, and it will be exposed for them with this world up and get scouted by bigger clubs.”
“The team has a huge potential; the players are very ready and hungry. They are willing to go all the way out to achieve their goals. If they were not united, some would have played for themselves. But I have witnessed from the Tunisian game until today that you see pure unity among a group of boys whose vision is to qualify the Gambia for the World Cup and do what is right for the nation. They have the hunger, determination, and passion to go the extra mile and delivering for the country. That trip to Indonesia in May is something that every one of them wants to do. The talent is there; the players are there; the coaching staff too are there supporting them,” Modou added.
