The Young Scorpions will face Tunisia in their U20 AFCON opener today (21 Feb.) at the Alexandria stadium in Egypt.

This is the second time the teams are facing each other in the tournament since their last meeting in Nouakchott. 

The Young Scorpions edged out the Young Carthage Eagles in a 4-2 shootout to claim their second bronze medal in the tournament. 

Gambia, one of the teams expected to excel at the tournament, has the momentum and coach Abdoulie Bojang wants to keep on that path.

“I have a duty to maintain the standards of the team. The focus is on Tunisia, to put up a respectable performance and win,” Coach Bojang told CAFonline.

“Football is not just on paper but the 90 minutes om the pitch and that is what we will do. We were here before, so we want to be consistent with our performances to achieve that again.

“It’s a team, it’s not individuals but it’s a team that plays together, with a dream, with a strategy and each player is very disciplined and does everything to achieve this.”

In Group C, they have been drawn against Tunisia, Benin and 2017 winners Zambia.

“We are in good condition, we can work calmly to get the goal; qualify for the World Cup and why not win this trophy,” Bojang said.

Gambian football is going through exciting times with the Young Scorpions qualifying for consecutive tournaments on the back of the senior Scorpions heroics in Cameroon on their TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations debut. 

“It will be a very difficult match against Tunisia, they will be favourites, they are a great nation, but we have fantastic players, and we will do everything to win this match.

“We are well prepared; we respect the opponents. We must continue to dream,” Bojang said.

Gambia v Tunisia at the Alexandria Stadium in Egypt 

Kickoff time: 2pm Banjul time