Gambia coach, Paul Put (pix:cafonline) |
Gambia went into the game with heads held low and hoping to
gain nothing near a qualification spot, having shamefully lost to Namibia in
Windhoek earlier.
On Saturday, the players, being mentally prepared to play
for pride even lost a great part of it hence the belief was a win will do just
that, with favourites Burkina Faso, who topped Group F, grabbing a late
equalizer owing to a lack of concentration or determination at the Scorpion’s
defence.
With a few clear cut chances, Gambia’s defender Omar Jawo
rise-up to the challenge, heading home a long throw from defended Pa Modou
Jagne after one hour into the game, with a few fans, some of whom were
mobilized from the National Youth Service Scheme (NYSS) driven in a celebratory
mood.
But celebrations were brought to a halt 30 minutes later
when the ageing Burkina Faso striker Moumouni Dagano fired past goalkeeper Musa
Camara with Gambia defenders Jawo and Jagne staring, having given him all the
time in the world to punish them.
After the game, Gambia coach Paul Put dashed his way out of
the stadium without waiting for the post match presser, a move that shows a
lack of respect for one of sports most important partners, the media. This was
the first time the exorbitantly paid (€12,000) coach Put decided not to speak
to the press.
His opposite number, Burkina coach Paulo Duarte says he was
surprised that Gambia succumbs to defeat in Windhoek, saying Namibia is not a
good team.
Though a CAF-ruling pending on their heads, following an
appeal by Namibia over the eligibility of Cameroon-born defender, Zenge, the
Burkinabe are perceived as the immediate winners of the Group. “They
are just talking,” coach Duarte said of Namibia in response to a question on
the issue.
If Namibia succeeds in their appeal, Burkina will forfeit
six points to the Brave Warriors, who would emerge Group winners and qualifies
for Gabon and Equatorial Guinea and Gabon 2012. However, it has been speculated
that CAF is likely to throw away the appeal, in fact, the ruling, which was
scheduled for end September, is rather taking longer than necessary.
Meanwhile, the blame game continues in Banjul over the
jeopardized campaign of all national teams, especially that of the Senior
National Team, the Scorpions. With chances of qualifying for the 2014 World Cup
apparently a “mare dream”, frictions reportedly between the handlers of the
game, the sports ministry and the Gambia Football Association, Gambia’s
football hopes remain an “unlikely achievable dream.”
Author: Modou S. Joof for The Voice Newspaper
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