The Scorpions hopes of making their first ever African Nations Cup Finals appearance become more complicated following the team goalless draw in Praia against Cape Verde last Saturday.

The Scorpions of the Gambia were held to a goalless draw in their fifth outing in-group 8 of the Ghana 2008 qualifiers.

However, despite missing four key players namely Edrissa Sonko, Lamin Conateh alias Babayeh, Abdoulie Corr alias Paco and lately Musa Bajaha, the Scorpions put up a respectable performance in Praia but failed to achieve the most important part of the game: scoring.

The game was marked by the coming of Real De Banjul goalkeeper Alhagie Jobe alias Toldo in the place of first choice Musa Bajaha, who could not make it to Praia due to flight problem.

According to reports from Dakar, Musa Bajaha and Edrissa Sonko were expected to fly on Friday to Praia from Dakar but the plane could not take off for almost one hour due to technical problem.

The Gambia and Cape Verde are all at five points each with the Gambia having an edge on goal difference.

Gambian captain Ebou Sillah and Dawda Bah were send off by the Central referee in the crucial game in Praia.

It could be recalled that the Gambia defeated Cape Verde 2-0 in the first leg of Ghana 2008 outing in Banjul.

The fate of group 8 remains undecided as it has witnessed a turning point with a change of leadership.

Second placed Guinea Conakry, five points have now revived their hopes of making it to Ghana 2008 after upsetting Algeria 2-0 in Algiers on Saturday.

The victory over Algeria has earned them leaders of group 8 with 8 points and a better goal advantage over Algeria, who also have 8 points.

The fate of the group would be decided in September when the Gambia would host the Algerian side in Banjul, while Cape Verde would travel to Conakry.

Gambian Coach, Jose Martinez, and his side need to secure a win over Algeria in Banjul with a goal margin of not less than 3 if they want to make it to Ghana in 2008 and hope Zambia, in the other group, to drop all three points in their last game against South Africa in September in Johannesburg.