Gambia thrash by Mauritania 2-0

Gambia Home-Based Squard

The Gambia’s Scorpions, comprised of local home-based players, on Wednesday lost to the Mauritanian national team (Maurabitones) by 2-0 in the first leg of two friendly matches to be played between the two sides at the Independence Stadium in Bakau
 
Italian tactician coach Mancini invited 24 local-based players at the FIFA Goal Project in Yundum.
The visitors opened the score in the 27th minute courtesy of Abdoullah Gueye, from a defensive error, to put the Mauritanians in early lead.

Ismaila Diakite made it two nil for the Mauritanians in the 48th minute, three minutes after the resumption of the second period.

Both countries are using the matches to prepare for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers, CHAN, and other CAF competitions. The Scorpions are expected to play Ivory Coast in March in the FIFA qualifiers.

The Gambian side was boosted with only three professional players, who took part in the Wednesday encounter, namely Dawda Bah, Tijan Jaiteh and Abdou Jammeh. Dawda Bah, who captained the local-based players, played 64 minutes, while Tijan Jaiteh, who was vice captain of the day, and Abdou Jammeh played the whole game.

The Mauritania National team's sojourn in The Gambia is yielding fruit as the Maurabitones' first warm-up match against the Scorpions on Wednesday was a nightmare for The Gambia. The minute crowd that watched the evening friendly at the Bakau stadium was left dumbfounded after the visitors punished the home-based Scorpions by a two-nil defeat.

Next match is scheduled for Saturday 2 March to be preceded by Real De Banjul VS FUS Rabat at 3pm.