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Gambia News : The Gambia faces Iran in Under-17 World Cup finals in Nigeria
The recent changes in the squad of the Baby Scorpions of The Gambia have the continental toppers and their coaching staff chewing fingernails ahead of their opener with Iran on Sunday in the FIFA Under-17 World Cup finals in Nigeria, states a report published on the FIFA website on Saturday.
The Gambia, the smallest country on mainland Africa, roared through the continent’s Under-17 championship in Algeria, edging Ghana and the hosts for a second consecutive title.
These results, for a team previously considered a football backwater, are proof positive of a substantial youth revolution. But the team that is now in Nigeria will be without 11 regular squad members, among them a good number of influential attacking players.
"We are happy with the team right now, but we won’t know really what we are capable of until we play our first game," Egyptian head coach Tariq Saigy told FIFA.com with the aid of assistant coach and part-time interpreter Lamin Sambou. "We felt it was best to change some players in our team, to be on the safe side and not to be concerned when FIFA conducts their MRI scans.
FIFA announced early last month that random MRI tests would be conducted at the finals. These tests will not determine the players’ age, but would confirm definitively if a player is older than 17.
In their first friendly after the changes, just a month before the finals in Nigeria, The Gambia were humbled 5-0 by the USA in London. Results changed for the better in short order, however, and they look to be coming together. "We are much stronger now than when we first started with the new lads," added the Egyptian, three years in charge of the Gambian juniors.
The Baby Scorpions have been crowned African Champions twice ; first in 1995 when they outclassed Ghana in the final game of the tournament and in 2009 when they humbled host, Algeria.
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- Football in the Gambia is getting more and more professonal. Since Mr President took over Gambian are becomming more and more confident both in sports and traditionally.My happiest day will be,seeing Gambia playing in the world cup.But give thanks.BJ
(Posted on February 27, 2010, 7:25 PM bob J)
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