The emerging struggle for football supremacy between Ghana and Gambia, albeit on the junior level, makes interesting reading. The other day, it was the Under 20 sides that fought for the final place of next year’s African Youth Championship in Rwanda.

Ghana won a slim 2-1 victory over Gambia in Accra and the visitors, led by the team officials proclaimed that the Black Satellites of Ghana would be whipped in the second leg in Banjul.

Whilst some considered it as just a morale boosting prank for the Gambians, others regarded is as a real threat because the Gambians have a reputation of winning home matches through any means

The 2005 Africa Youth final in Gambia was recalled when a football fan stormed the opponent’s goal posts during a tense goalmouth action and he succeeded in distracting the attention of the goalie that let in the match winner for the home team.

All this did not disturb the Satellites and they went on to win again, to smash the so- called home invincibility of the Gambians.

It is with this background that the Under 17s clash between Ghana and Gambia at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi last Sunday Nov 9 attracted such immense attraction.

The huge crowd saw the Black Starlets of Ghana beat their Gambians counterparts 3-1 with two of Ghana’s goals coming from penalty kicks. It was the first leg of the final qualifiers for the African Championships in Algeria next year and the Starlets had it tough.

The Gambians are not making any promises this time round for the second leg, but Ghana Coach Afranie says he is very much aware of the task ahead and he has confidence in the boys to deliver the goods.

This second leg promises to be a thriller and it would be interesting to see how the Gambians would fight to avoid a second time football humiliation at the hands of Ghana at home.