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Gambia News: Tough World Cup Draw for Country

Gambia has been handed a tough World Cup preliminary qualifying drawn that bring back some ugly memories in Gambian football.

The Scorpions are in Group 6 with strong neighbours Senegal and 2008 Nations Cup qualifying round foes Algeria and, 2006 World Cup Preliminary round nemesis Liberia, also making the group. The draw that was held in Durban, South Africa, will see the Scorpions revisit venues where they will face fierce opposition from the home crowd.

A visit to Dakar to face rivals Senegal will bring back sweet and bitter memories of the two-legged matches in 2003 for the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers between the Scorpions and the Teranga Lions.

But a return to Monrovia, Liberia, is sure to awaken some bitter memories when the Scorpions thrown out of Germany World Cup 2006 qualifiers. Gambia travelled to Liberia with a 2-0 home advantage in 2003 but returned empty handed having suffered a 3-0 defeat at the hands of the Lone Stars, and accusations of camp breaking and heavy boozing and flirting with prostitutes making the rounds among the players.

But Dakar and Monrovia are not the only venues that will present a hostile reception to the Scorpions. A quick return to Algiers is certain to provide another big test for the Scorpions. Gambia defeated Algeria 2-1 at home in September this year, effectively denying them the chance to qualify for the 2008 Nations Cup and a desire for revenge is certain to occupy the Algerians who left Banjul very bitter.

Forty-eight African countries have been drawn into twelve groups of four, and the winner of each group together with the 8 best runners-up will be drawn into five groups of five. The winner of each of those groups will qualify for the World Cup in South Africa in 2010 and the second and third placed countries will qualify for the Africa Nations Cup in Angola in the same year together with the group winner.

Src: Foroyaa, Gambia