In Congo Brazzaville The Gambia U-20 team have made a brilliant start in the African Youth Championship tournament holding in Congo Brazzaville with a stunning 2-0 victory over the Young Stallion of Burkina Faso.

The Darling Scorpions flabby performance in the first half paved way for a brilliant performance in the second half, that fetched them two stunning goals. Scorpions prolific forward, Ousman Jallow slotted in a fascinating opener, before Abdoulie Mansally doubled the advantage two minutes later.

Despite the late arrival of Gambian fans to cheer up the team in Saturday’s match, Bonu Johnson and his side deservingly maintained the 2-0 scoreline until the expiration of the regulation period that evenatully saw them top Group A on goal advantage.

Earlier on the day, the host, Congo Brazzaville also stunned Ivory Coast 2-1 in the grand opening match in Brazzaville. Congo’s narrow victory over the Young Elephants, levelled them with The Gambia on the same points, while the Darling Scorpions enjoyed a goal advantage.

The Darling Scorpions, who earlier on had a successful training camp in South Africa en-route Congo, will return to action on Tuesday, January 23, when they face the host, Congo. Tuesday’s encounter will undoubtedly be a litmus test for both sides who earlier won their first encounters.

At the same time Wallidan’s striker, Momodou Ceesay (Zico), continues to nurse his injury while enroute to Switzerland, where he is expected to sign a contract with the Swiss team, Grasshoppers. Zico is being missed by his fans and colleagues, who wish him a speedy recovery.

Meanwhile, Over one hundred Gambian fans landed safely in the Congolese capital, Brazzaville. on Saturday night. The joyous fans, who left Banjul on Slok Air chartered flight-Thanks to President Jammeh’s benevolent gesture had a 45 minutes transit in Coutonu-Benin, after a three-hour flight from Banjul.
From Benin, the joyous fans took another two-hour-thirty-minute flight to Brazzaville. The cheerful fans who missed Gambia’s 2-0 win over Burkina Faso in their opening match were full of joy when the news of Darling Scorpions’ victory broke out while they were in Benin.

Speaking to Observer Sports shortly after their arrival, Bai Abdoulie Cham, the President of the Scorpions Fans Club said, "We are very grateful to Almighty Allah for our safe landing. Secondly, we are grateful to His Excellency, Dr Alhagi Yahya Jammeh for his kind gesture. Without him, we would have not been here.

Cham said despite missing the first match, they will undoubtedly make sure their presence is felt come Tuesday".

The Gambia’s last group match against Ivory Coast on Friday, January 26, has been shifted to Pointe Noire instead of the earlier scheduled venue, Brazzaville, meaning The Gambia U-20 will have to take a 45-minute local flight to the new venue.