The Darling Scorpions were booted out of the 2015 African U-20 Youth Championship after found guilty of using five overage players against Liberia in the first-leg tie of the qualifiers on 6 April 2014 in Monrovia.
In that encounter, The Gambia beat Liberia 1-0 courtesy of former Brikama United and Cassa Sport prolific striker Bakary Daffeh from Bubacarr Trawally alias Steve’s brilliant effort to fire the Darling Scorpions to a slender victory over their Liberian counterparts.
The Gambia made their debut in the African U-20 Youth Championship in 2007, hosted in Congo Brazzaville after beating Mali 2-1 in the second leg of the qualifiers played at the Independence Stadium after their 1-1 draw in the first leg in Bamako, where they won bronze medal after thrashing Zambia 3-1 in the third playoff.
The Gambia also made their debut in the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2007, hosted in Canada, where they were eliminated in the second round after losing to Austria 2-1.
The Gambia also made their second appearance in the African U-20 Youth Championship in 2011, hosted in South Africa after thumping Ivory Coast 2-0 on aggregate in the qualifiers, but were eliminated in the first round after losing their three group fixtures.
Gambia kicked Sierra Leone out of the 2011 Youth Championship after pounding Shooting Stars 4-1 on aggregate in the qualifiers.
Zambia are set to host the continent’s bi-annual cadet football championship in 2017.
