Poor
officiating has cost The Gambia a place in the CAF U-20 youth championship.
Benin
referee disallowed two Gambian goals in the second leg of the final match of
the qualifiers played in Conakry yesterday, Sunday 24 July 2016.
According
to live commentary monitored over the Gambia Radio and Television Services
(GRTS Radio) by Essa Sowe, the Young Scorpions scored 2 goals that were
disallowed in each half by the Benin referee and his assistants.
The
Gambia, who were eying to make their third appearance at the tournament, saw
their hopes dashed by the referee who was not at the top of his game.
The
Gambia, who drew goalless with their Guinean counterparts in the first leg
played in Banjul a fortnight ago, were beaten 2-1 in Conakry.
Two
goals in each half by Guinea ensured that Ebrima Jobe’s spot-kick only proved
to be a consolation for The Gambia.
The
Gambia, it must be noted, put up a respectable performance against Guinea
despite losing 2-1.
Meanwhile,
Nigeria, the World Under-17 champions, failed to reach next year’s Under-20
Africa Cup of Nations in Zambia, falling to a shock 3-4 home defeat to Sudan
who sealed a famous qualification.
Nigeria
hosted Sudan in Lagos leading 2-1 from the first leg, but Sudan - who had a man
sent off - came from behind to level the tie 5-5 overall and progress on away
goals.
Senegal
qualified on Friday after eliminating Ghana, and South Africa and Egypt also
went through.
Nigeria,
who have enjoyed much success in youth competitions both in Africa and
globally, went into the return leg of their qualifier against Sudan as
favourites to win.
Nigeria
had already endured a torrid week after the players threatened to boycott the
game due to unpaid allowances and poor treatment.
It
took the late intervention of Nigeria Football Federation vice president Seyi
Akinwunmi to avert the crisis, with him donating $17,000 to the team.
Another
country missing from Zambia 2017 will be Ghana who fell to a 3-2 aggregate
defeat to Senegal on Friday.
Ghana
are the only African team to have won the Under-20 World Cup, lifting the
trophy in 2009 with a penalties victory over Brazil in the final in Egypt.
However,
Senegal’s 3-1 advantage from the first leg in Dakar proved decisive, with Ghana
failing to claw back the deficit.
Ghana
gave the home fans some hope when they went 1-0 up, but Senegal’s dogged
defence stopped them from adding to the tally, with Senegal becoming the first
side to join the hosts Zambia at next year’s finals.
South
Africa will also be at the finals after a 3-0 win over Lesotho on Saturday,
winning 5-0 on aggregate.
Also
on Saturday, Egypt won 4-0 away to Angola to book their place in Zambia. The
victory gave Egypt a 5-0 aggregate win.
In
total, seven teams will join hosts Zambia at the finals next year.
The
top four sides at the African tournament will qualify for the Under-20 World
Cup in South Korea in 2017.
