The
Gambia’s hope of securing their first-ever CHAN appearance was dashed on
Saturday after they were hammered 4-nil by Mali in Bamako.
The
home-based Scorpions who played out a goalless draw with their Malian
counterparts in the first leg at the Independence Stadium in Bakau could only
hold on for the first half with Mali’s 4 goals coming in the second 45 minutes.
The
home-based Scorpions needed only a score draw or win against Mali to progress
to the second round of the qualifiers but failed in their attempts.
The
first leg was not the entertaining of games with both sides being poor in front
of goal and unable to create any significant goal-scoring chances.
Meanwhile,
Mali have qualified for the last three CHAN finals with their best finish
coming last year when they lost to DR Congo in the final.
The
Gambia are one of the African sides that have never qualified for the CHAN
finals.
