Gambia’s hope of qualifying for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations is slim following their goalless draw at home to Mauritania in their group M tie played at the Independence Stadium in Bakau yesterday.
The Scorpions and Mourabitounes both made an admirable start to the game and threatened each other.
Striker Khali Moulay Bessam could have given Mauritania the lead in the 14th minute of the game after capitalizing on The Gambia’s defence inertia, but his header was denied by defender Kebba Ceesay.
Midfielder Demba Savage also came close to opening the score for The Gambia in the 17th minute of the game with a good shot denied by the Mauritania’s custodian Ibrahim Soulayman thus the first half ended goalless.
Upon resumption of the game, the Scorpions and the Mouratounes picked up where they left in the first half and continued to pose danger in each other’s goal mouth.
Midfielder Ismaila Diakhite came very close to netting the opener for Mauritania in the 67th minute of the game but his effort was denied by the Gambia’s goalkeeper Alagie Modou Jobe.
Striker Mustapha Carayol and substitute Lamin Chatty could have also netted the opener for The Gambia in the 85th and 89th minutes of the game but blasted away their limited goal-scoring opportunities thus the game ended goalless.
The Gambia are still rooted at the bottom in group M with 2 points in four games, whilst Mauritania are still second in group M with 7 points in four games.
South Africa are third in group M with 3 points in four games after sharing points with group M leaders Cameroon in Durban, who have bagged 8 points in four outings.