African teams seek to redeem image

By Ifeanyi Ibeh


A lot of expectations were placed in the U-17 teams from Gambia and Burkina Faso, prior to the commencement of the ongoing FIFA U-17 World Cup in Nigeria, but they both lost their opening matches of Nigeria 2009.

Indeed, it hasn’t been smooth sailing for African sides at the ongoing FIFA U-17 World Cup as they all struggled in their opening round of matches.

Besides the Golden Eaglets who played out a thrilling 3-3 draw with European champions Germany, all the other four teams from the continent - Gambia, Burkina Faso, Malawi and Algeria -suffered defeat at the hands of European and Asian opposition.

Aside from the Burkinabe’s and the Gambians who lost 1-0 and 2-0 respectively to Turkey and Iran, Algeria lost by a lone goal to Italy, while Malawi were beaten 2-0 by the United Arab Emirates. But African champions, Gambia, who looked impressive in their 2-0 loss to the Iranians, and Burkina Faso, will be desperate to avoid a recurrence when they resume their quest for honours today.

At the U.J Esuene Stadium in Calabar, Gambia’s Young Scorpions will be up against the Netherlands who also lost their opening game, a 2-1 defeat at the hands of the Colombians who will be up against Iran in the zone’s second game of the day. And with both teams having lost their opening fixtures, anything less than victory today could mean an early flight home from the championship at the end of Saturday’s round of matches which for Burkina Faso, is a testy duel against the impressive Colombians.

Scorpions without sting, Stallions without pace

The Dutch, for their part, will be squaring up on Saturday against the Iranians and will need to take their points now to be on the safe side, especially against a Young Scorpions side that will be without the services of suspended Buba Sama and Dembah Janneh, who were both sent off in their loss to Iran.

Captain of the Gambian side, Ebrima Bojang, however feels he and his teammates can hold their own against the Dutch even without the suspended duo.

“Sure, it will not be easy in our second game against Holland, especially with two players missing through suspensions. Even so, we are a good team and we have good players,” he said, before adding: “We have come here to do well and to make our country proud. The Dutch should know that about us.” At the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu, Burkina Faso’s Young Stallions will also be desperate to claim maximum points against a New Zealand side that surprised most onlookers in last Sunday’s 1-1 draw against Costa Rica. Coach Rainer Willfeld’s Stallions will, however, attempt to avoid conceding yet another early goal as was the case against the Turks. They will also need to be more potent in the attack, if they want to come out of today’s match victorious.