The Gambia upset France to reach the knockout phase with a game to spare and leave their opponents on the cusp of elimination.
The Young Scorpions raced in front when Adama Bojang’s shot ricocheted off goalkeeper Yann Lienard and went in off Bleuets defender Tanguy Zoukrou.
Lienard saved France from falling further behind shortly into the second half. Florent Da Silva-Sanchez tripped Bakary Jawara inside the area, but Alagie Saine’s spot-kick was saved.
Wilson Odobert quickly punished the miss, heading home to equalise after everyone had missed a free-kick to the back post, but Mamin Sanyang secured The Gambia victory by jinking his way past Jordan Semedo Varela and fizzing the ball home.
Making their return to the U20 World Cup for the first time since 2007, Gambia has announced its resurgence with two wins in two matches. They previously defeated Honduras by the same scoreline.
Having already secured their spot in the round of 16, the young Scorpions will now face South Korea in a decisive match for the top spot in Group F.
Gambia joins Nigeria as the second African nation to progress to the knockout stage, as Nigeria also claimed their second victory in two matches, triumphing over Italy 2-0 on Wednesday.
The Gambian under-20 team’s remarkable performance against France has reverberated throughout the football world, and their continued success in the U20 World Cup establishes them as a rising power, igniting hope and pride within their nation and inspiring a new generation of young footballers.
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