The national U-20 side are expected to land in Banjul this morning after playing a heroic 1-1 draw in another first-leg match of the CAF U-20 qualifier campaign at Modibou Keita Stadium, in Bamako last Sunday.

As part of the final qualifier stage, the 1-1 draw match was described by many pundits as a positive result for the Darling Scorpions in their bid to qualify for their first-ever CAF U-20 finals in Congo 2007. In Sunday’s match, the host nation first took the lead in the 51st minute before Bonu Johnson’s side reacted with a stunning equaliser just 7 minutes later, thanks to Ousman Jallow’s solo effort. The Gambia jealously maintained the 1-1 scoreline until the regulation period expired.

Come October 21st, 2006, the Eagles of Mali will travel to Banjul for the second-leg encounter. The vital final fixture will decide who among the two West African nations will go to the finals in Congo.

However, the Gambia certainly have a mild edge over Mali having secured a vital one-away goal meaning that even a goalless draw will see Gambia through.