The Gambia Under 20 team will, on Saturday, June 28, take on their Mauritanian counterparts in the first-leg qualifying round of the 20th edition of the African Youth Championship finals to be hosted in Rwanda next year.  Saturday’s game will be coach Rubinacci's first competitive match in charge of the Gambian youth team.

The Gambia’s 3-0 thrashing of Senegal in a warm-up match last weekend left the Italian coach very much optimistic that the Darling Scorpions can go all the way in their bid for their second appearance in the continent’s second most prestigious football competition.

The Gambia will travel to Nouachott on June 12, for the return leg, with the winner facing either Libya or Ghana in the next stage of the qualifiers.