The team, starting from the coach, captain were presented a financial token for their milestone achievement in their group stages of the competition by the GFF.
The Gambia U-20 were one of the two teams in the ongoing Afcon tournament that won all their three group matches without a conceding goal.
The Young Scorpions defeated Tunisia 1-0 in their opening game, before thumping Zambia 2-0 in their second match, followed by another 1-0 victory against Benin in their third and final Group C game.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the coach and captain were included in the Best XI of the group stages and the token given to them is seen as a motivation as the team seeks to secure a place in the semifinals and the World Cup when they play South Sudan on Friday.
Bakary K. Jammeh, GFF 1st VP, who also doubled as head of team’s delegation stated that coach Abdoulie Bojang’s selection as the Best Coach of the group stages of the Afcon tournament in Egypt is historic.
“Since the inception of the Gambia Football Federation (GFF) in 1957 and since we started participating in international competition, no Gambian coach has ever won the Best Coach of the tournament.”
He expressed joy to have this international accolade won by a Gambian son, adding that the achievement is not only for the coach but for the entire team and The Gambia.
Fr his part, Coach Abdoulie Bojang said the current achievement they have made in the Afcon tournament so far is all due to team and collective work.
“At the technical side, everyone is efficient at his position. Maybe everyone might say it’s the head coach due to the individual accolades, but to be honest, all these achievements are as a result of team work. Not us alone, but together with GFF and the entire Gambia at large.”
Meanwhile, Alagie Saine, the captain of The Gambia U-20 team, noted that they didn’t come to add numbers but to compete in the Afcon tournament.
“We came here for a competition and not for jokes. We have people that are waiting for us back home and they expect us to meet our targets.”
According to him, their first target is to qualify from the group stage, and then also qualify to the World Cup in New Zealand.
