The Young Scorpions are AFCON U20 finalists!It was history for The Gambia U20 team as they booked their first Africa Cup of Nations U20 finals trip courtesy of a nervy 1-0 victory over seven time champions Nigeria in an entertaining semifinal staged at the Cairo International Stadium on Monday night.##NAJAVA_MECA_7069094##Young talent attracting Premier League attention Adama Bojan was the difference maker for the 2021 Bronze medalists as he latched on to a fortunate rebound from his teammate to drive the ball past Chijioke Kingsley inside the eighth minute.Nigeria with a chance to level matters late on, had Ahmed Abdullahi strike the foot of the post from the penalty spot.The win marks the first time The Gambia have made it past the tournament semifinals and will face off another unbeaten side, Senegal in the March 11 finals at the same venue.THE GAMBIA ARE IN THE #TotalEnergiesAFCONU20 FINAL FOR THE FIRST-EVER TIME! @TheGambiaFF pic.twitter.com/W4jAq3LW2C— #TotalEnergiesAFCONU20 (@CAF_Online) March 6, 2023 Game Recap.Match favorites Nigeria looked to have settled into the game quite comfortably and carved out a real decent chance in the opening five minutes that just went wide.It didn’t take long for the opening goal as Gambia’s persistent press worked for them in interesting fashion. Benjamin Chiemela, trying to play from the back, smacked his looped cross ball at Kajally Drammeh and fell into Adama Bojang’s path.The 6-foot-3 ‘Gambian Hurricane’ was not going to miss, and he didn’t, racing clear to side foot the ball past Chijioke Kingsley to make it 1-0 to the Gambia, with their first shot attempt.ADAMA BOJANG 🇬🇲(2004) OPENS THE SCORING WITH A FIRST-TIME FINISH!!! THE GAMBIAN HURRICANE STRIKES AGAIN!!! 🌀#NGAGAM #TotalEnergiesAFCONU20 pic.twitter.com/SvieMcYZUz— Football Report (@FootballReprt) March 6, 2023 The Flying Eagles with a mountain to climb created their other opportunity in the first half from Onuche Ogbelu who shot from distance but his effort went just wide of Dampha’s goal.Ayuba Francis in the 35th minute shot over the bar but Nigeria should have equalized seconds later as a shot from Francis went wide, with the Gambia goalkeeper off his line. A cross shot from Rilwanu Haliru went across the goal as halftime approached.At halftime, Nigeria had eight attempts but only two shots were on target. Gambia on the other hand had only one shot – which was the goal.It took an awful lot of time for the first real chance of the game to come in the second half and it was through substitute Ahmed Abdullahi as he put in a tame right shot inside the 59th minute.Center back Benjamin Chiemela then came agonizingly close to levelling natters but his double-rebound from a Nigeria corner was blocked by Alagie Saine and saved by the goalkeeper to hold on to the slim 1-0 advantage.Struggling FKFPL side Wazito land former Gor Mahia sponsorThe big moment of the second half came in the 82nd minute as Ahmed Abdullahi made a run from the left and cut inside the box, forcing goalkeeper Pa Ebou Dampha to make a diving attempt to parry the ball. The Gambian keeper however didn’t get a touch on the ball, but on Abdullahi, who went tumbling down inside the 18-yard box.After the ball had gone out, the referee made his way to the VAR monitor and awarded a penalty to Nigeria.Abdullahi struck his right shot to the bottom left post, saving Gambia from a late equalizer.As the game had panned out, Nigeria were not lucky enough on the day and as Ogbelu’s dipping shot went over the bar, it was all but clear that the seven-time champions had run their race, and Gambia were well on to their first ever AFCON U20 final.
