Gambia writes history, Senegal made it through

Gambia writes history, Senegal made it through

The Zone II sub-zonal pool 2 continental qualifications for beach volleyball came to a historic end on Sunday in Dakar, Senegal after Gambian teams booked qualification to the proper zonal qualification for Rio Olympics.  The Gambia tops the female group after beaten Senegal in the female round robin. The Gambia gained 12 points from 4 games leaving the host with 0 points. Mauritania and Cape Verde did not present females teams consequently the Gambia became the new leaders in Zone II pool 2 female standings.

 

Saffie Sawaneh, Abie Kujabi, Sainabou Tambedou and Fatoumatta Ceesay adore the national colors in front of hundreds of spectators. This is the first time the Gambia won Senegal in such competition and in back-back victories. The Gambia male teams were outdone by the host in the round robin securing 9 points with the Gambia 3points. Gambia bounces back in day two of the competition by beaten Cape Verde islands 3-1 in four games thus cementing their fate with 12 points from 8 games. Malick Jammeh, Babucarr Jarra, Alieu Barry and Pa Ali Njie gave the Gambia the historic victories.  Senegal gained qualification after beaten Cape Verde Islands to top the standings with 15 points whiles Cape Verde earned 6 points.

 

I am proud of my ladies, said Gambian coach Alagie Babou Joof. We manage to control the game with good balance of threat and control. Our strategic to control the Senegalese player worked very well. Our target is to see Gambia in Rio for the Olympic Games and today I am the proudest Gambia Joof conclude.

 

I usually need some time in the starting of the games to inspired and motivate my team mates Malick Jammeh captain for Gambia said. However my team mate helped me a lot to play on my best level and today we are through to the zone level and we are not stopping there, raising the national colors of the Gambia is our target now.

The Senegalese coach Seck Mbye applauded the Gambia team and said he was surprised on the performances the Gambia showed. To be honest Gambia was tip as the underdog but they proved everyone wrong so congratulations to the Gambia Mbye stated.

The Gambia female team was decorated with gold medal and trophy and the Senegalese counterparts with silver medalist. The Senegalese male team wins the gold medals with a trophy and the Gambia as first runners up got silver and the third runners up Cape Verde got the bronze

Victory was merited for the Gambia and they will hope this is the first of many victories to come, this term and beyond, it was indeed the parting result for Alagie Babou Joof would have wanted, or deserved, as there was entertainment all the way. As he waved to the opposite fans, The Gambian teams travel to Senegal as rising stars and returned to the Gambia as super star.

 

Day 1 Male

Gambia A v Senegal B

(21-17, 17-21, 15- 10)

Gambia B v Senegal A

(11-21, 17-21)

Senegal A v Gambia A

(19-21, 21-19, 15-13)

Senegal B v Gambia B

(16-21, 21-17, 15-11)

Day 2 Female

Gambia B v Senegal A

(21-17, 25-23)

Gambia A v Senegal B

(21-7, 21-6)

Gambia A v Senegal A

(21-18, 11-21, 15-9)

Gambia B v Senegal B

(22-20, 21-10)

Male

Gambia A v Cape Verde B

(21-19, 23-21, 15-10)

Gambia B v Cape Verde A

(21-17, 17-21, 5-15)

Gambia A v Cape Verde A

(21-16, 21-12)

Gambia B v Cape Verde B

(21-23, 21-17, 15-9)

Day 3 male

Senegal A v Cape Verde B

(16-21, 21-13, 15-13)

Cape Verde A v Senegal B

(21-16, 21-17)

Senegal A v Cape Verde A

(21-18, 21-12)

Senegal B v Cape Verde B

(19-21, 21-23)

Male Qualification

Senegal, Gambia

Female Qualification

Gambia, Senegal

Muhammed L Saidykhan

Press Officer- GVBA