CAN 2027 Qualifiers: Gambia triumphs over Somalia with a late winner (2-1)

The Independence Stadium in Bakau buzzed with excitement as international football returned to Gambia, and the Scorpions finally delivered the desired outcome for their supporters after a fiercely contested match.

With a strong start, Jonathan McKinstry's men took the lead in the first half, but the match became much tenser in the last quarter of that half: Somalia's captain Abdulsamed Abdullahi and Gambia's Abubakr Barry both received consecutive yellow cards. McKinstry responded at halftime with a double substitution, bringing on Muhammed Badamosi and Suleiman Camara.

The turning point of the match came after the hour mark. Just as Gambia seemed to be in control, Bilal Njie equalized in the 72nd minute, rewarding the efforts of the Somalians and completely reigniting the contest. However, the Scorpions quickly responded: introduced at halftime, Muhammed Badamosi scored the decisive goal in the 83rd minute, restoring the lead for the Gambians, who managed to hold on until the final whistle.

A valuable victory for the Scorpions, who begin their campaign in a competitive Group C on a high note, before heading to Accra to face Ghana. For Somalia, despite the defeat, the performance reflects the progress of a team experiencing this level of competition for the first time in its history.