As Mali, Others Get Through to Semi-Finals

Despite making an impressive performance last evening, the Scorpions of The Gambia, under the guidance of head coach Jose Martinez, were the next causalities to fall out from the Zone II Tournament at group stages.

The Scorpions now joined Guinea Conakry and Sierra Leone who had earlier on crashed on the way-side.

After a lackluster performance in their first match, which resulted to their 2-0 defeat by Mali and a draw with Cape Verde, the Scorpions and defending Champions Sily Nationale of Guinea Conakry were last evening singing from a different song-sheet when the Scorpions thrashed the defending champions 3-0. Yesterday’s victory gave Gambia four points but so much for their dream for the championship title as this was not enough for the Scorpions to get through to the next stage of the sub-regional tourney. Last evening victory of Cape Verde over Mali meant Cape Verde had one point ahead of Gambia as Cape Verde now reaches the semi-final stage.

Cape Verde and The Gambia were battling it out for the second place in their group but Cape Verde outclassed Gambia by securing two points from their two goalless games with Guinea Conakry and the Scorpions. Last evening, they raked three more points to sail through to semi-finals.

The Scorpions of The Gambia, who were counting on Mali to either draw or win Cape Verde, had their hopes dashed when the result could not tilted to their favour.

Football enthusiasts, who were very elated about the Scorpions’ last evening performance, later in the evening became despondent when news reached town that  Cape Verde instead of Gambia are the semi-finalists. This could be related to Gambia’s lack of chance of winning the bi-annual event despite many years of participation.

As winners of group B with six points, Mali will on Thursday take on Senegal in the semis. Host Guinea Bissau will meet Cape Verde the same day.

The finals of the 2007 Amilcar Cabral Zone II will take place on 9 December 2007.