Gambian footballers battle in Europa League

Gambian footballer in Europe will pursue their dreams for reaching the finals of the Europa League, as the play-off matches kicked off Tuesday.

Gambian attacker Ousman Jallow and Paul Jatta's Brondby will open their play-off campaign against Sporting Lisbon of Portugal on Thursday, at the Portuguese Estádio José de.

The return leg of the crucial battle is set for 26 August in Denmark, at Brøndby Stadion where the team will finish off its battle to reach the group stage

Njogu Demba and OB will host Scotland Motherwell FC Thursday evening at the Danish TRE-FOR Park.

OB has only once previously met a Scottish team that was in 2006, when it became a 1-0 victory at home to Hibernian before OB escaped further, despite 1-2 defeat away.

The team was never knocked out by teams from Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland. In all, Odense OB won six times, played a tie and never lost against teams from Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland.

Amadou Jawo and Swedish side IF Elfsborg will travel to Italy to take on Napoli at the Stadio San Paolo. Thursday's meeting will be the first for Napoli against a Swedish team. Elfsborg team Coach Haglund said on club's website that seeing Italian opponents at Borås Arena later in the return leg feels almost unreal big.

Dawda Bah and Finnish giants HJK Helsinki, who crashed out of the UEFA Champions League 3rd round two weeks ago, were taking on Besiktas in Istanbul yesterday, as we went to press last night.

Ahead of the encounter, team Coach Muurinen expected an interesting game, and to the team's away three points.

He said on club's site "defending, getting the accuracy and integrity, and be able to keep the ball in possession, is our target."

"We run only if the opponent's suit, it may be that somebody comes," he concluded.