Savoy: Gambia lacks a ‘killer’ striker

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Gambia coach Raoul Savoy says his team’s lack of a ‘killer’ striker was largely to be blamed for the lone goal loss to Cameroon in the Group M Day Two qualifier last Sunday in Banjul.

Portugal-based Vincent Aboubacar scored the only goal on 65 minutes to hand the Indomitable Lions a second straight win in the qualifiers.

Savoy who was without an experienced out and out striker in a post-match interview said “we need a ‘killer’ in front of goal because we have young boys and they need more experience.”

The Indomitable Lions roared loudest at a wet Independence Stadium as Benjamin Moukandjo dispossessed Pa Modou Jagne to set Aboubakar who shot past debutant Alagie Nyabally for the winner.

The hosts started well dominating possession and the aerial challenges, and should have taken the lead from a Sanna Nyassi set piece which Granada midfielder Sulayman Marreh failed to connect with on the half hour mark.

“We need players with more experience like Ousman Jallow, Momodou Ceesay and Kekuta Manneh,” added Savoy.

The four-time champions nearly silenced the sold-out crowd when Henri Bedimo’s cross from the left was headed inches wide by Edgar Salli seven minutes before the break.

The Scorpions threatened on the counter causing some panic in the Lions defence nine minutes after the break when Modou Barrow beat right-back Oyongo Bitolo to cross for Pa Amat Dibba, whose control deceived him but managed to square to Sanna Nyassi who fired off target.

On his part, Cameroon coach Volker Finke said “It was a difficult game. Gambia in this stadium with support of many people meant it was a hard job. Now in Africa, there are no longer small teams but I would congratulate my team because it has been very tough times after the Brazil 2014 World Cup.

“Now we are moving step by step with young players like Joseph Ondoa (the goalkeeper) who is 19-years. This is the new generation after the likes of Samuel Eto’o”.

Cameroon leads Group M with six points, Mauritania trail with six points with Gambia and South Africa in that order with a point each.