The Gambia can be proud – Saintfiet

Gambia coach Tom Saintfiet during the post match press conference after the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations Afcon Finals Quaterfinal match between Gambia and Cameroon at Japoma Stadium in Douala, Cameroon on 29 January 2022 ©Shaun Roy/BackpagePix

by Graeme Jackson

Sunday Jan 30, 2022. 14:00

Tom Saintfiet, coach of the Gambia, says his team and the country can be proud of their efforts at the Africa Cup of Nations.

On tournament debut, the Scorpions went unbeaten through Group F and then defeated Guinea in the round of 16, before finally falling short in the quarterfinals when they were beaten 2-0 by hosts Cameroon on Saturday night.

The Gambia’s outstanding showing at the AFCON is surely one of the highlights of the tournament, and Saintfiet – while disappointed at the defeat to the Indomitable Lions – is ready to reflect on their journey.

“I am proud of my players, in the tournament but also in this match where we lost against a great team from Cameroon, we were beaten by the future champions of Africa,” the Scorpions coach is quoted by CAF.

“We made mistakes that we paid for in cash, that’s also the high level.

“There were tears in the locker room but Gambia and its players can be proud of the course, we will bounce back very quickly and return to the front of the stage.”

Ironically, due to their low ranking, the Gambia will be back in AFCON action as early as March, as they face Chad over two legs in the preliminary round of qualifying for the 2023 tournament in Ivory Coast.