If by some unforeseen twist of fate, the qualifiers of the African Nations Cup stops now, the Gambia as leaders of Group D will reach the finals.
The reality of course suggests the journey could be long and bumpy, stretching right down to late 2020 with four more matches to play including two away matches.
Last night the country’s footballers hunted but let go off the Leopards of Congo in a bruising encounter that saw the boys play their hearts out to keep the Group’s favorites at bay.
Not surprising, it was the Leopards who first showed their true colours. They turned a normal set peace lethal when Gambian defenders failed to sail with the ball as Cedric Bakambu silenced the home crowd with opener dead at half time.
That was injurious to the pride of the home team that stole headlines across the continent with a win over Angola only five days previously and so the Scorpions leveled the score just after resumption when Pa Modou Jagne successfully completed a vigorous come back crusade. But the Leopards turned wounded and dangerous at this stage and restored their supremacy through Jackson Mulenga.
The mood and spirit in the stadium entered a momentary down slopping but hearts were lifted again when Buba Jobe put the Gambia on level terms minutes before the last whistle. It ended 2-2 with Gambia going with a slender lead in the group as the race enters a long break.
