The Gambia U-20 team on Saturday registered their fourth consecutive defeats since they clinched the Bronze medals at the 15th edition of the African Youth Championship held in Congo earlier this year.

After being beaten three times in the Swon International Youth Festival in South Korea in March, the Gambia U-20 team lost to Ivory Coast U-23 2-1 in an international friendly match played at the Independence Stadium in Bakau on Saturday.

With the absence of some of his key players due to club engagement or injuries, Coach Bonu Johnson introduced six new players in the starting line up.

They are:
Ebrima Jatta and Paul Jatta alias Apapa of Hawks FC, Abdurahaman Dampha of GPA, Abdou Darboe of Armed Forces and Sura Jaiteh of Steve Biko as Goalkeeper, who his making another come back in the team after some time of absence.

As usual the Gambian team started the game with a poor performance giving the Elephateaux of Ivory Coast the opportunity to control the ball and dominated all the departments of Gambian team except the defense where Mandou Bojang and Furmus Mendy watched carefully.

Despite dominating the game, scoring chances were not forthcoming for the Ivorians.
It was the Gambia that first mounted a real assault on the visitors through their captain, Sarja Leigh of Stade Malien of Bamako, in the 20th minute.

The Ivorians reacted in the 28th with a good combination between Teko Mensarh and Diomande Vamount. The later introduced a good ball at the back of Gambian defense for Oussou Goigny, who beat Gambian goalkeeper Sura Jaiteh on a short range kick at the surprise of the thousand of spectators, who turned to cheer their darling Scorpions.

Just two minutes after opening the scores. The Ivorians missed their second goal through Youlon Arsene.
The Gambia opted for the all out system trying to level the scores.

Pa Modou Jagne in the 30th minute missed a equalizer and three minutes before the end of the first half, Sarja leigh went closer to the equalizer on a free kick in the 30-yard, pushed to corner by Ivorian goalkeeper Falong Okoua.

The second half was a different story with the Gambia U-20 dominated the encounter with the entry of Sainey Nyassi, Pierre Gomez and another new come in the team, Hadji Tunkara of GPA, who replaced Buba Darboe, Furmus Mendy and Abdurahaman Dampha respectively.

Coach Bonu’s option was rewarded in the 60th minutes with the equalizer netted by Sainey Nyassi with a shoot in the 25-yard.
From there the Gambian team over played the Ivorians but lacked the finishing touches to complete their domination.

To counter Gambia’s option, Ivorian coach Kouadio Georges made valuable changes with the coming of Oussou Konan and Ouattara Doumba for Diomande Vamount and Denn Roixel respectively.
Coach Bonu reacted immediately by substituting Sarja Leigh and Ebrima Jatta for Sanna Nyassi and Ahagie Amadou Ngum.

But it was Coach Kouadio Georges’ option that would bear fruits as one of his Substitute, Oussou Konan, scored the winning goal for the Ivorians in the 85th minute.
The Gambia U-20 fought back very hard but time was not in their favour.

The game ended 2-1 for Ivory coast U-23 at the disappointment of thousand of Gambian fans.
Three Gambian players, Abdou Darboe, Sarja Leigh and Pa Landing Conateh were yellow carded while four players of Ivory Coast namely Jeko Mensarh, Oussou Goigny, Youlon Arsene and Gnago Gisrave were cautioned.

It could be recalled that the Gambia National U-20 lost their home friendly against Nigeria U-20, 1-0 just few days before leaving for the African Youth Championship in Congo, where they came out Bronze medalists and a ticket to the World Youth Championship to be held this summer in Canada.