Defiant Gambia deny Sierra Leone as Nigeria’s Ojoko FC Knocked Out
Match day three of the African International Youth Tournament continued in Freetown at the National Stadium and the actions continued as eight teams from across Africa battled for the Madam trophy, Gambia Under-20 held Sierra Leone to a one whole draw and Nigeria’s Ojoko FC have been knocked out of the one week tournament. (Photo: The Nigerians are having an early exit in the AIYT)
The first match of the day on Monday saw two familiar opponents clashing after they met in August this year in the qualifiers of the 17th African Under-20 Orange Championships. The last time the Gambian Under-20 played against Sierra Leone Under-20 they held the host to a draw and this time round in a tough encounter full of controversy the Gambians deservedly got a draw as they tirelessly pressed forward to get an equaliser after falling behind 1-0 in the 1st half. Sierra Leone had taken the lead in earlier when Mohamed Mansaray scored in the 13th minute after he headed in a rebound. The Gambians who controversially got a goal disallowed after the referee had ruled the ball on target kept the pressure on Sierra Leone and a lob from Baby Scorpion’s number 10 Mustapha Jatta from the right hand corner forced Sierra Leonean defender Abraham AS Kamara heading into his own net as goalie Mambay Sattie looked hopelessly a t a ball he could not stop.
For the Gambians it was justice for their disallowed goal as they celebrated in Islamic style bowing in delight. The match was intense and each team created little space for the other as they battled to a draw. Gambian number 7 Buba Sama’s disallowed goal was the main talking point in the post-match press conference and Gambian coach Lamin Sarr made clear his frustration about the decisions of the match officials. “The refereeing was poor, psychologically we were affected because of our history with this referee. It should have been 3-1 because we had two goals that in my opinion should have been granted, thankfully we never gave up and in the end we got a goal.”
On his part Sierra Leone Under-20 coach Alimamy Turay said his team lost concentration in the concluding part of the match and he said he will do his best to work on that for their next match.
The next tie in Group A saw Liberia Barrack Young Controllers playing a tight game with Ojoko FC from Nigeria, in a first half full of hard tackling the first aid team with their stretchers had to be called in five times by the referee. Both teams conscious they needed a victory tried to stop the other and play fast long balls but it was the Nigerians that had first clear miss of the match. Nigerian attacker Ajayi Olaniyi had only a touch to make but couldn’t connect to a pass that would have given his side the lead, the number 17 man hit the side bar and pounced on a rebound that went wide.
The 2nd half was much more open as the Liberians desperately adventured forward and created spaces for their strikers, it paid off and in the dying 73rd minutes of the match Barrack Young Controllers wide-man Lamine Jabateh took the lead after he connected from an inviting cross and poked in from the near post.
Andrew Swarray for BYC should have doubled the lead but he wasted a clear chance to double the lead by blazing the ball over the bar from inside the six yard box.
Barrack Young Controllers coach was visibly pleased and told journalists afterwards despite the misses his boys proved they can do it and will try their best to make it to the next round by beating Gambia in their final group match.
The loss means the Nigerians are cannot qualify for the group stages but the Ojoko FC coach Idris Bola said although he feels disappointed, he still believe his boys have learnt a lot from the tournament, “we will continue to work to improve this team and give the boys all the confidence they need,” he said.
Team List
1st match
Sierra Leone Under-20
1 Mambay Sattie 14Khalifa Jabbie 12Salma Kamara 13 Abraham AS Kamara 5 Gibril Lalas Fofanah 2 Baimba Kamara 10 Foday Samura 4 Ibrahim Kallay 15 Alhaji Kamara 9 Alhassan Kamara 8 Mohamed Mansaray Subs 16 Abdul Bah 7 Asman Kamara 3 Abu Sesay 17 Lansana Kamara 11Lamin Suma 18 Abdul Sesay coach Alimamy TurayGambia Under-20
22 Musa Kamara 13 Sainey Manneh 5 Saikou Jawneh 6 Boubacarr Savage 15 Omarr Colley 4 Pa Sulaiman Badjai-yicaw 8 Mamut Sainie 10 Mustapha Jatta 7 Buba Sama 14 Ebrima Camara 11 Lamin S Samateh-yicaw Subs 1 Alhajie Nyabally 3 Dawda Ceesay 9 Sainey Sambou 16 Chernoh Njie 2 Moudou Ndow 12 Jatta Baldeh 17 Victor Jatta Coach Lamin Sarr 2nd matchLiberia Barrack Young Controllers
1 Mulba Urey 6 James Powell 15 Jusufu Hargreave 8 Alpha James 11 Myers Galo 21 Continanta Queejay 19 Sylvester Neuville 13 Andrew Swarray 4 Kpah Sherman 17 Samuel Thompson 7 Lamine Jabateh Subs 30 Winston M Sayuoh 3 Francis Jallabah 10 Orlando Wah 14 Albert Sarweah 22 Abraham Smart 9 Claudius MorrisOjoko FC Nigeria
1 Atoyebi Isiaka 2 Adoide Olawale 11 Ogunlade Gbenja 12 Adamoloja Tope 5 Adeshina Dare 6 Olowolayemo Tayo 9 Omosola Ayo 13 Olaitan Gbenga 10 Omotosho Muyiwa 4 Daramola Olarewaju 17 Ajayi Olaniyi Subs 16 Lasisi Surajo 14 Ogunsakin Femi 8 Ojo Femi 15 Bolaji Murtala 18 Idowu Olarewadu 7 Owotuyi Isaac Coach Bola IdrisBy Mutaru Wurie, Freetown
Stay with Sierra Express Media, for your trusted place in news!
© 2010, https:. All rights reserved.
