Gambia Armed Forces Beaten In the CAF Championship

• Posted by Modou S. Joof on March 10, 2010 at 1:44pm
• View Modou S. Joof's blog

Banjul, The Gambia (TNBES) The Gambia Armed Forces Football Club suffered defeat to Algerian side JS Kabylie in the opening fixtures of the 2010 Confederation of African Football Champions League, at the
Independence Stadium in Banjul on Saturday 13^th February.

The Algerian 1^st Division side beat their Gambian opponents by 2-1 in a game mainly dominated by the visitors. Armed Forces, who are the defending champions of the Gambian 1^st Division out played
regardless of the home support.

JS Kabylie striker Chemilta Rarcess missed a few goal-scoring chances in the first 10 minutes of the game. In the 12 minute, the soldier’s midfielder Landing Darboe beat the Algerian defence but his shot was flicked away for a
corner kick by goalkeeper, Hadiaou Samir.

Tendar Saad of JS Kabylie missed a slight chance through a corner kick from skipper, Mefah Muhamed. In the 34^th minute, Armed Forces Alige Fofana made a remarkable move around the center of the field, but
striker Mamadou Gaye could not put the home side on the lead.

The two times African champions took the game to Armed Forces as Kabylie’s Chemilta Rarcess fired a powerful shot from the 18 yard box in the 47^th minute, gave the visitors the lead; it was more of a
real threat and an exposure to the vulnerability of the home side.

Admdia Amine’s 56^th minute effort was enough to place the North Africans on the driving seat as they go 2-0 up, with the second leg to be played in Algeria.

Armed Forces Coach, Alhagie Sey brought in two players at the same time as Landing Darboe and Babou Badjan were replaced by Muhammed Lamrana Jallow and Buba Sama. But the
visitors were more concentrated on going home with an away win.

Akkouche Yaassine’s led to continued dominance at midfield as he and Admdia Amine, Tendar Saad, Chemilta Rarcess and Maroui Tayeb enjoyed a good possession of the ball. In the 82^nd minute JS Kabylie defender Bellakalem Essaid was
guilty of a blunder when he played the ball back to his goalkeeper which
eventually led to an own goal to put the results at 2-1.

Armed Forces Coach, Alhagie Sey expressed disappointment as he was speaking to journalists after the game. He explained that his side prepared to win but his players did not showcase what they’ve been trained.

However, he said that he is optimistic of winning in Algeria because it’s all about the game and anything can be happen. He also urged the Gambians to rally behind the team in order to develop Gambian football, but the defeated
coach still feels disappointed with the boys’ performance.

For his part, the Coach Alain Geiger of JS Kabylie said he is very happy with the performance of his players and that they deserved the win. He also said that they hopeful of winning the return leg at their home
soil, citing that the home support is there.

He also admitted that the pitch is very good. “It is not the type of pitch we were expecting to play on in Africa,” he said, adding that they were well treated and welcomed by Gambians. VOL:3
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