Senegal Beat Gambia U-17

The Gambia National U-17 hope of recovering from their disappointing one-all-draw against their Senegalese counterparts, a fortnight ago was dealt with a heavy blow as the African Champions slipped to another embarrassing 3-2 defeat in the hands of the rejuvenated Senegalese side in Dakar last Saturday.

The visitors conceded an early lead through Ousman Ndoye when Centre-Back Lamin Samateh, alias Bassmen failed in his attempt to clear the ball from his own goal-mouth with only 6 minutes on the clock to give Senegal the lead in a poor attended return-leg friendly encounter.

Ten minutes later, Play maker Saihou Gassama put the two times African Champions back into the game with a find leveler, but the situation turned from bad to worse for the Gambia U-17 team when the Senegalese's duo, Abdoukarim Camara and Joseph Lopez who scored his side's only goal during the first leg in Banjul extended the lead in the second period.

The U-17 team put up a good fight in the latter stage of the second period and scored the second through substitute Buba Sama, but it had proved to be a consolation for the recently crowned African champions as they suffered a 3-2 defeat.

Just before then U-17 could have level the score when they were awarded a penalty which Left-Back Omar Colley (O.J) failed to convert mid-way through the second period.

The friendly game is part of the preparation before the start of the U-17 World Cup, slated for October in the Federal Republic of Nigeria which the Gambia will make their second appearance. It is expected to be followed by the 6- day international football academics tournament in Nigeria from the 17th to 22nd August 2009.

The Gambian team that is selected to represent the country in the six team academics football tournament that includes academies from Ghana, Benin, Sierraleone, two from the host Nigeria, is scheduled to leave Banjul on Monday.