It was a day of high drama and shootout heroics in the Gambia Football Federation (GFF) Cup, as three teams booked their places in the quarterfinals through penalty kicks after all matches ended 1-1 in regulation time.

At the Goal Project Field in Yundum, TMT Football Academy kept their title hopes alive by edging out Fortune FC 4-2 in a tense penalty shootout. The match had earlier seen Fortune go ahead through a brilliant low drive from Muhammad Jallow. 

TMT missed a golden opportunity to level when Yankuba Ceesay saw his penalty saved by Saikou Jeng. However, a stroke of misfortune for Fortune as an own goal by Ebrima Touray brought the sides level before penalties sealed their fate.

Real de Banjul FC also held their nerve in a shootout, overcoming BST Galaxy after a 1-1 draw at the LYDFF Field in Basori. In Brikama, it was Greater Tomorrow Football Academy who prevailed on penalties, eliminating RS Tallinding in yet another match that couldn’t be decided in 90 minutes.

With so much riding on fine margins, the GFF Cup continues to live up to its billing as one of the country’s most unpredictable and fiercely contested competitions.

Upcoming Quarterfinal Ties

TMT FC will meet the winner of the clash between Wallidan and Kanifing East, scheduled for Wednesday.

Real de Banjul await the victor between second division sides Latrikunda United and Gambia Ports Authority.

Greater Tomorrow will take on whoever advances from the game between Brikama United and Unique Global.

With shootouts becoming the norm, fans can expect more edge-of-the-seat action as the GFF Cup enters its crucial knockout stages.

By Ebrima KB Sonko