The defending champions of the Abijan four nation tournament the U-17 team of The Gambia will be going to Ivory Coast next month to defend their title in the second edition of the U-17 peace tournament organised by the Avorian football federation.

The tournament is expected to kick off on the 5th and run until the 12th of July.

Seedy MB Kinteh, President of The Gambia Football Association, while speaking to Pointsports said the Ivorians will be taking care of the accommodation and tickets while the FA will provide the travel allowance for the team.

“We are waiting on the Ivorians to send the tickets for the team but the technicians are working ahead of the competition and hope to retain the title.

 He said this will serve as a good preparation for the boys who will be meeting Sierra Leone in Banjul on August 30th as part of the qualifiers of the CAF U-17 championship.

It will be recalled that the Egyptian Technical Assistant Tarik Siagy coached the Gambian team to Abidjan and assisted by Ebrima Jallow, alias EB, the former Bakau United and Seaview coach.

The Gambia U-17 team proved all predictions wrong by clinching the Ivorian four-nation football tournament, staged by the Ivorian Football Federation to mark the 47th Anniversary of nationhood last year.

The Gambia U-17 came out unbeaten in the tournament and were awarded a giant trophy and twenty five gold medals, Burkina Faso went home with 25 silver medals and Niger received 25 Bronze medals.

Sainey Touray, alias Ballack, of Wallidan was awarded the Golden Boot of the tournament for scoring three goals in four matches.