By beating Sierra Leone 2-0 in the semi-final of the WAFU Zone A tournament in Bamako, Gambia U20 booked their ticket to AFCON 2027 in Ghana. Agibou Dibba and Francis Gomez scored, and a final against Guinea looms on Friday.
The Young Scorpions took a decisive step in Bamako, Mali. In the semi-final of the WAFU Zone A championship, Gambia U20 won 2-0 against Sierra Leone, according to Voice Gambia. The win earns the country a fifth appearance at the U20 AFCON, scheduled for February-March 2027 in Ghana. All that remains now is a final to play on Friday at the Stade Mamadou Konaté, against Guinea.
The match was settled early. Agibou Dibba opened the scoring in the 8th minute, before Francis Gomez doubled the lead around the 30th minute: Voice Gambia gives the 30th, while Malian outlet Journalessor says the 31st. Francis Gomez was then named man of the match, again according to Voice Gambia.
Group leaders all the way
Before this semi-final, Gambia had finished top of Group A with 7 points, Journalessor recalls. They drew 0-0 with Liberia, then won twice: 1-0 against Mali and 2-1 against Guinea. That same Guinea side now stands in their way in the final, having knocked out holders Senegal 3-2 after extra time, despite a Moussa Guèye brace.
Gambia had already reached the U20 AFCON final in 2023, in Egypt, losing 2-0 to Senegal, according to Journalessor. Ghana 2027 will therefore be the country’s fifth U20 AFCON in history.
One coach, two names
The man leading this generation is named differently depending on the outlet. Voice Gambia calls Abdoulie Bojang the Gambia U20 head coach, while Journalessor highlights Ebrima Jatta, presented as head coach by that outlet. The latter, quoted by the Malian outlet, set out the aim plainly: “All that is left now is the third objective: doing everything to bring the cup back to Gambia. This Friday, we will fight for the title.”
Caution is still warranted over the exact identity of the man in charge of the bench, for want of official clarification in the available sources.
A treble still conditional
Beyond the U20 AFCON, a possible historic run is taking shape for Gambian football. As The Standard writes, Yahya Manneh’s U17s have already qualified for the U17 AFCON 2027 in Egypt, scheduled for April-May 2027. If Jonathan McKinstry’s senior Scorpions, the national team head coach, also secure their ticket for AFCON 2027, the country would complete an unprecedented treble of CAF qualifications.
The senior Scorpions do not yet have their ticket for AFCON 2027. For now, the priority remains Friday’s final against Guinea at the Stade Mamadou Konaté.