Gambia scooped Gold and Silver at the CAVB Continental Cup in Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire. The women claimed gold after beating Ghana and Burkina Faso while the Men got silver after beating Ivory Coast.
This is the second time Gambia women have won gold in one calendar year and the men’s silver medal marked the third in 2015.
The Gambia women beach volleyball team shocked Ghana in the openings of the Group B African beach volleyball qualifications for Rio Olympics 4-0 at Triechville Sports Complex in Abidjan.
The Gambia surprised their West African fellows after 2 hours of stiff resistance. Gambian pairs Sainabou Tambedou/Aminata Gaye, Fatoumatta Ceesay/ Abie Kujabie set Triechville Sports Complex ablaze when they pulled the first set (21-14, 21-13).
The Ghanaians opted for an unlikely comeback in the second round with Gloria Addah scoring points for the team. The Gambia remained firm in their court.
The Ghanaian side came up very strong in the ultimate round winning 21-18 but the Gambian pairs of Fatoumatta Ceesay and Abie Kujabi drew fresh blood to overcome the towering Ghanaian team. This is the first major victory for the Gambia women against an opponent outside Zone 2.
“It really was one step at a time, and we knew we would get there if we just took it moment by moment,” Sainabou Tambedou said.
“It’s super exciting now that we’re finally through to the next rounds of the continental cup. It’s our togetherness, there is no magic, there’s no anything. We are all friends on and off the court, and that’s really helpful. We all trust each other on the court, and that’s very important. That trust will especially factor against Burkina Faso.”
Meanwhile the host Ivory Coast lost to their neighbors 4-0 earlier in the men category.
