The
Gambia have intensify preparations for their crucial 2018 CHAN qualifiers first leg tie at home to Mali next month in
Banjul.
The
home-based Scorpions under the guidance of coach Alagie Sarr, are currently
training at the Independence Stadium in Bakau to prepare themselves fit enough
for the first leg clash with the home-based Eagles of Mali in Banjul next month.
Coach
Sarr will be ambitious to assemble a solid team to face fellow Africans in the
first leg in the home soil next month before the second leg in Bamako, a week
later.
The
Gambia have never qualify for the CHAN competition since its inception in 2009
by CAF for players playing their domestic leagues.
The
home-based Scorpions also failed to qualify for the first edition in 2009 after
slipping to Mauritania in the qualifiers and also failed to qualify for the
2016 edition after losing to Senegal 4-1 on aggregate in the qualifier ties in
Dakar and Banjul respectively.
It
would be recalled that the Gambia CHAN team beat Morocco U-20 team 3-2 in an
international friendly game played at the Brikama Box Bar Mini Stadium in March
2017, as part of preparations for the 2018 CHAN qualifiers at home to Mali.
Bombada
striker Mustapha Drammeh and Hawks midfielder Lamin Chatty were on target for
the home-based Scorpions.