The Gambia Under 17 team ,yesterday, began their quest for a place in the 2009 CAF Under 17 championships finals with an emphatic 4-1 victory over visiting Sierra Leone at the Independence Stadium.

The Baby Scorpions woke up from a lackluster start to earn a big enough first leg advantage ahead of the return leg in Freetown.

Ports Authority’s Saihou Gassama opened the scoring for the baby Scorpions with only 2 minutes played. The home side could have doubled the advantage in the 25th minute if striker Alasana Camara had  converted a penalty after the visitors handled the ball in the area.

Sierra Leone, who were reduced to ten men in the 45th minute after the sending off of Zuma Issa Kamara, went ahead to restore hope three minutes into the second half.

Samba Kanu pierced through the Gambian defence to slot in the equaliser, but his solo effort only proved to be a consolation when the home side later rallied and poached  three second-half goals.

Real de Banjul’s Ebrima Bojang slotted in the second in the 54th minute before substitute Mbemba Simaka drove home the third in the 76th minute. Bojang, much of whom was not seen in the first half, grabbed his second of the day through an artistic shot to seal the tie at 4-1.

The Gambia will now travel to Freetown on September 12 for the return leg with the winner proceeding to meet the winner in the Ghana - Libya clash in the final qualifier phase.

Already Ghana have an edge over Libya after the Black Starlets emerged 3-0 winners  in their first-leg meeting on Saturday.