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The Scorpions of The Gambia have sent a strong warning to its 2012 African Cup of Nation’s qualification opponents [Burkina Faso and Namibia] after a convincing 3 nil thrashing of the Leopards of the Democratic Republic of Congo formerly Zaire in one of the least friendly games held at the Independence Stadium in Bakau yesterday.

Goals from Danish based Tijan Jaiteh, Finnish based Demba Savage and Slovakian based Momodou Ceesay was enough to give the red, white, blue, white and green Nation the victory, giving the fans value for their money as they watched the match with great enthusiasms at the Independence stadium not withstanding they were still in the Muslim Holy Month of Ramadan.

After the late ejections of some players due to injury or travel arrangements, The Gambia’s Belgian tactician Paul Put worked with the players he had in a squad, which was vastly full of international players with only Abdou Jammeh being the local player in the starting line-up.

Put started with Pa Dembo Touray at goal, a back four of Mamadou Futty Danso, Abdou Jammeh alias T-Boy, Pa Modou Jagne and Ebrima Sohna. While Captain Mustapha Toubabo Jarju partnered with Tijan Jaiteh. The Flying striker Sanna Nyassi was in partnership with lanky forward Momodou Ceesay upfront and Dawda Bah was in one of the flanks, Demba Savage on another.

However, this line-up in itself was a strong squad considering the fact that defender Kebba Ceesay was brought in by Paul Put in order to see him play before being able to play against Burkina. He will miss the Namibia clash after been booked in the last game before this, but unfortunately for Paul, Kebba was not in the right state of condition to feature as he received a knock from a Tijan Jaiteh tackle on Tuesday morning during their training. Nevertheless, he was amongst the substitute’s bench.

Paul Put changes should have started at the better side and preceding the lead in the 13th minute, when Captain Mustapha Toubabo Jarju forced his way forward inside DR Congo’s half to send in a fine curling cross to Rapids man Sanna Nyassi. But the star-studded man missed the ball as DR Congo’s poacher Robert Kidiaba fisted the ball over to Momodou Ceesay, where he didn’t waste time in sending the ball back to where it came from but unfortunately Sanna Nyassi’s bicycle kick just sailed over Kidiaba.

Six minutes later, the Scorpions were a goal up after Tijan Jaiteh scored a brilliant goal. Congolese defender Eric Nkulukuta’s poor throw in his own half lead to Tijan’s goal as he hurriedly took the throw thereby sending it to Tijan, who chested it down and right from the 20 yards out, stuck a laser shot which was fumbled by Kidiaba thereby giving Gambia, the 1 nil lead.

And in the 21st minute, Momodou Ceesay [Zico] sent in a curly free-kick that was rumbled by the Leopards poacher, but Sanna was beaten to the rebound ball by the cheeky Congolese defence.
Three minutes later, the Stadium was set ablaze after Honka’s leading goal-scorer [with 10 goals] and fine player, Demba Savage replicated his Honka form inside the pitch and scored following a solo marathon run inside Congo’s half after been assisted by HJK Helsinki man Dawda Bah inside Gambia’s half and Savage ran his way through inside Congo’s d-area where he beat past his marker and slotted the ball right inside Kidiba’s net from a tight angle giving Gambia the 2 nil lead.

In the 28th minute, the Leopards of Congo came closer to pulling one back as Mbuyi Andrea received a cross from Mboyo Ilombe Pele, but he nodded it past Gambia’s goal-poacher Pa Dembo Touray.

Half an hour gone in the game, Zico beat past several centre half’s, but his shot from just inside went inches over, while a Sanna Nyassi swinging corner cross into the box was nodded down by Savage for Portland’s defender Mamadou Futty Danso. His free header from just five yards out went over the bar, ending 2 nil at lemon.

The second period of the play saw the game starting in a slow pace with Gambia carrying the vast percentage of the possession. Congolese Coach Robert Nouzaret effected several substitutions in order to close down the midfield, heavily dominated with the partnership by Tijan Jaiteh and Mustapha Toubabo Jarju.

In the 68th minute, Mbuyi Andrea once again had the chance to get a goal for his team, but his 19 yards low shot was just been watched by Pa Dembo as it went wide.

The Gambia was given a great opportunity to bury the day when the Bissau Guinean referee Fidel Gomes awarded a penalty to lanky Momodou Ceesay without a second thought, Kidiaba grabbed his legs instead of the ball and the MSK Žilina marksman wasted no time in sending Robert Kidiaba the wrong way, 3 nil it was to The Gambia.

The convincing victory over the Leopards will come as a great moral booster for the Scorpions who are hoping to clinch a ticket in a first ever appearance at the 2012 African Cup of Nations to be co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. The Scorpions lies second in the group, accumulating three points from two games, six adrift of group leaders Burkina Faso with the Stallions of Faso playing a game more.

The Scorpions could narrow that gap, when they face Namibia in Windhoek in the first week of September. The Stallions will have a match day rest before preparing for the much anticipated game against Paul Duarte’s Burkina at the Independence stadium in October.

It was reported that the Nation’s number one Citizen [Preseident Jammeh] wasn’t present at the game, nonetheless, he was represented by other high powered dignitaries, amongst which were Sheriff Gomez, Honorable Minister for Youth and Sports and his Permanent Secretary, Alieu K Jammeh, the Minister for Works and Construction, Dr Njogu Lamin Bah and the G.F.A President Seedy M.B Kinteh, just to name but a few.

Meanwhile, as the Scorpions were doing their thing, Burkina Faso was also busy playing against South Africa in Johannesburg but they faltered to a 3 nil defeat to their hosts.

gilzinho a écrit :Moi je pense qu'on devrait laisser la paire Mulongoti-Kimuaki,prendre un autre back droit mais vraiment un autre back droit puis composer un milieu Mulumbu-Ngoyi et Ilongo en 10 esuite a gauche comme a droite plusieurs combinaisons sont possibl sur les ailes Deo/Mboyo/Mbuyi/Mputu a gauche et Patou/Kinkela/Mununga/Mbuyi a droite en attaque seul Diba nous avons sa aurait été intéréssant un Kumbela en Gambie mais bon la prochaine fois ne soyons pas pessimiste les frères le gros problèmes est nôtre colonne vertébrale avec une bonne colonne vertébrale la Rdc va empiler les buts car n'oublions pas qu'en qualif nous avons toujours marqué un but.

Erick Ross a écrit :Pinto, Ngoyi a joué RDC A'-Auxerre A', tout comme Zakuani. Hier, c'était son premier match avec l'équipe ''A''.

gilzinho a écrit :J'ai vraiment pas tout compris mais le nom de Mutombo est le plus de fois cité on peut imaginer que c'est lui le congolais qui fut le plus dangereux.

gilzinho a écrit :Ouais mais Makiadi c'est silence radio en ce moment apparament et ouais l'idée de tsholola back droit me plait bien d'ailleurs beaucoup n'ont pas apprécié sa 1ere mi-temps contre l'Ile maurice a kin mais moi j'ai trouver qu'il s'était débrouillé comme même bref dans ce cas il faudra un ailier sait défendre et un deux très bon 6 mulumbu a énormément progresser déja qu'il avait un gros volume de jeu maintenant il participe aux attaques récupère enormément de ballon comme Cleverley de M.U ou bien Marvin Martin hier face au chili tandis que Makiadi,Ngoyi ou même Zola s'occupe d'abord des tâches défensives ce qui permettra de ne pas avoir d'énormes espaces entre les lignes apres j'ai confiance en nos joueurs a vocation offensives.