By John Mendy
The Gambia’s local based team was on Saturday held to a frustrating 0-0 stalemate by Guinea-Bissau in an international friendly at the Independence Stadium in Bakau.
The Junior Scorpions may have begun the game on the front foot with former U20 talisman Pa Omar Jobe and Matarr Ceesay of Armed Forces combining well in attack, but the Gambians have themselves to blame for not translating some three deadly chances to goals by half time after vigorous attacks .
Even with the three front-line strikers – Pa Omar Jobe, Yankuba Jarju and Mustapha Drammeh – on the pitch, the host found their visiting opponents very adamant.
Pa Omar Jobe first wasted a delightful Lamin Chatty cross from the far right before shooting straight into the hands of Bissau’s Carlos Correa and heading Alagie Sarr’s looping cross wide.
A well composed and neat passing Guinea Bissau had their best chance of the game in the 35 minute when Abubakar Manneh’s attempt hit the stand post.
Gambia’s Baboucarr Ceesay was again called into action with 39 minutes on the clock as the ‘Wild Dogs’ flexed their muscles before the break.
Pa Omar Jobe may have forgotten his scoring boots at home when he again failed to bury another of his opportunities just 8 minutes into play as his powerful effort flew over the crossbar.
Substitutes Mustapha Drammeh and Yankuba Jarju could both have broken even with each presented an opportunity but were denied by the Bissau shot-stopper in second-half stoppage-time as Gambia had to settle for a draw.
The result, though, was good for both sides as it was a warm-up ahead of CHAN 2018 qualifiers.
Alagie Sarr and charges will this weekend play a return friendly in Bissau before hosting Mali on Saturday 15th July at the Independence Stadium for the first leg CHAN qualifier.
