Ivory Coast healing process starts with Gambia, says Gervinho

Gervinho

Arsenal forward Gervinho says Ivory Coast’s healing process after their 2013 Africa Cup of Nations flop starts with Saturday’s 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier against the Scorpions of Gambia.

Ivory Coast play their first competitive match this Saturday in Abidjan since their Africa Cup quarterfinal exit at the hand of eventual winners Nigeria last February.

Carayol stars as Boro beat Chelsea in U21 clash

Muzzy Carayol

Gambian Mustapha Carayol gave Tony Mowbray a timely reminder of what he can do as he inspired Middlesbrough to a 2-0 Barclays FA Under-21 Premier League win at the Riverside Stadium last night.

Carayol, who has been looking to establish himself since coming back from injury, was the stand-out player. He was one of four first teamers in the line-up against a young Chelsea side.

Copa Barry and Seydou Doumbia to miss Gambia tie

Boubacar Barry not facing Scorpions

Ivory Coast will be without two of their players, striker Seydou Doumbia and goalkeeper Boubacar “Copa” Barry.

The pair have opted out of the game after failing to recover from injuries sustained from their respective clubs.

Doumbia was expected to make his much awaited return after a one-year absence from the team but the CSKA Moscow striker has failed to recover from a knock.

Gambia names squad to face Ivory Coast

Gambia national team

The Gambia has announced its squad expected to face the Elephants of Ivory Coast in a 2014 World Cup qualifier that will take place on the 23rd of March in Abidjan.

The Scorpions left the country yesterday to Ivory Coast via Niger for a four day training camp ahead of the crucial World Cup qualifier against coach Sabri Lamouchi’s side.

Didier Drogba left out against Gambia

Elephants of Ivory Coast

Ivory Coast skipper Didier Drogba has been left out by Elephants coach Sabri Lamouchi ahead of their World Cup qualifier against Gambia, to be played next Saturday in Abidjan.

The reason behind the absence of the former Chelsea and Shanghai Shenhua striker is unknown, and could be related to the slight knee injury Drogba suffered with Galatasaray against Schalke in their UEFA Champions league tie last week.

Gambia improves in FIFA rankings

Scorpions of The Gambia

The Gambia national team, Scorpions, has registered an improvement in the FIFA/Coca Cola World Rankings as per the stats released on Thursday 14 March.

The team has risen one place from the previously occupied number 145 as per the February rankings and is now at number 144 with 176 points.

Gamtel face Sfaxien in CAF Confederation Cup tie

Gamtel Football Club

Gambia FA Cup champions Gamtel, will on Sunday face Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1 side Club Sportif Sfaxien in the first leg of the Confederation Cup round of 32 at the Stade Taïeb Mhiri in Sfax.

To get to this stage of the continental competition, the ‘Telecommunication boys’ outclassed Senegalese club Association Sportive et Culturelle HLM in the preliminary round 5-2 on aggregate.