Weekly Sports Roundup: Gambia Wins African Under-17 Football Title

25/05/2005

Bakau, Gambia, was the site of the under-17 African soccer tournament to determine both the African champion and the three teams that will represent the continent in the under-17 World Cup in Peru from 16 September to 2 October.

[File] Gambia wins first major football title

Ghana, Gambia, Cote d'Ivoire, and South Africa were the semifinalists. Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire played a scoreless tie through regulation in one semifinal, although both teams hit the posts on several occasions. The Ghanaians won the game 2-0 at the end of overtime.

Abubakari Yakubu intercepted an errant pass from the Ivorian defence with three minutes remaining to open the score. Opoku Agyeman, who scored in every tournament game, put in the second goal just seconds later to seal the victory. Host Gambia beat South Africa 2-1 in the second semifinal.

The stakes were high for the bronze medal game between Cote d'Ivoire and South Africa because the winner would receive the final berth for the World Cup. The crowd was impressed by the rare display of skill, finesse, and ambition. The outcome was decided in the 87th minute when Diarra Vamarra scored after the ball was deflected towards the goal by Kouadio Konan. The 1-0 victory allowed Cote d'Ivoire to advance to the under-17 World Cup for the first time in the last 18 years.

In the all-important final played late on Sunday (22 May), Gambia defeated Ghana 1-0 with a late goal. Ousmane Jallow scored for the home side in the 87th minute.

In European football news, the 37th round of the French championship did not settle the final standings.

Despite the fact that it has already secured the title, Lyon beat Marseille 1-0. Lille suffered an unexpected 2-0 defeat at home to Ajaccio, while Bordeaux and Monaco ended in a 1-1 draw. Lille and Monaco will play to determine second and third place in the championship's final round next week.

[File] Feindouno led Saint-Entienne to victory

Istres is the only team certain to face regulation, but the fate of five other teams will be decided in the final round. Guinea national Pascal Feindouno was the only African player to score last weekend, putting in his 13th goal of the season in Saint-Etienne's 2-0 victory over Istres.

Samuel Eto'o, a member of Spanish champion Barcelona and the top scorer in the league, has sponsored a book called "Stories About Football." Proceeds from the 37-story compilation by prominent Catalonian journalists will go towards providing better medical services to poor Nigerian children. A biography of Eto'o has been recently released in Barcelona.