Africa: Dream On

Unusual boys Gambia eliminated Guinea within the Africa Cup of Nations spherical of 16 to e book a put within the quarter-finals, turning into the 2nd debuting personnel, after Madagascar, to reach this stage of the rivals.

Musa Barrow used to be the hero for Gambia with a 71st-minute strike at the Limbé Stadium.

“As I admire repeatedly acknowledged I’m now not the star of the personnel,” acknowledged Barrow after receiving the person-of-the-match award.

“All people on that squad is conscious of that past soccer we’re one household,” he added.

The first different starting up line-up suffered major adjustments after staunch again Ibou Touray and player Nuha Sonko pulled out of the squad as a result of of food poisoning.

Gambia boss Tom Saintfiet instructed RFI that the personnel has had some challenges, nevertheless even supposing his facet could perchance perchance perchance now not admire sizable names, he has sizable gamers that can exchange any individual.

They racked up two victories and a design to brush thru the pool levels and are yet to concede a aim from originate play of their four games.

“When we were coming to the AFCON we had a dream of constructing historical past,” acknowledged Saintfiet.

“We retain on dreaming and believing in what we now admire,”

From migrant to midfielder

Some gamers admire pulled out all stops to determine up to the championships, every in my belief and professionally.

At age 15, Ebrima Darboe, the AS Roma midfielder undertook the harmful and deeply traumatic unaccompanied high-tail to Italy as a migrant, spending three months travelling by bus to Libya and then boarding an inflatable craft to despicable the Mediterranean.

Darboe, 20, made his AFCON debut for Gambia against Mauritania nevertheless then examined particular for Covid-19 and neglected out on the Scorpions’ 2nd and third games in Group F.

He says the self-discipline discovered below Roma coach Jose Mourinho has helped him attain better ranges.

“I indubitably feel extremely honored and chuffed to characterize my nation at this young age and am indubitably grateful to be at AFCON,” acknowledged Darboe.

“I feel right here is staunch the origin of a gargantuan occupation for me.”

Worthy has been made about the national personnel which took 50 years to reach the Cup of Nations.

For Mafugie Jatta, a used national personnel player within the 1990s, it is even extra poignant.

“We tried so arduous to qualify the Gambia to the AFCON within the future of our time nevertheless we could perchance perchance perchance now not. That is why I’m very chuffed to learn about for the time being,” acknowledged Jatta, in Limbé to toughen the personnel.

Cameroon emerged as the next adversaries for Gambia.

The Indomitable Lions seen off debutantes Comoros 2-1 after a match overshadowed by the horrifying stampede of fans at the Olembé Stadium that left no lower than eight folks ineffective and dozens injured.

“I’m now not jumpy about Cameroon,” added Jatta. “Even although we’re going to want to respect them as hosts … other countries are indubitably origin to respect us.”