A Liberian (In red) and a Gambian tussle for the ball in this action from Sunday’s match

Liberia filed a protest against Gambia on Sunday after losing 1-0 at home in the first leg of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) U-20 Championship.

Liberia Football Association secretary general  Alphonso Armah said the complaint was against five of the Gambian players who Liberia insists are not eligible to play in the competition because they are over the age limit.

Armah told Nordic Africa News that their Gambian counterparts, by fielding five over-age players, violated a CAF circular to all participating countries, dated on September 2, 2013, which states that “only players born on January 1, 1995 or after this date are eligible to play in this championship”.

He named the players as Sampier Mendy, Buba Sanneh, Bubacarr Tarwally, Saloum Faal and Ali Sowe who it was revealed, through their pasports, were born in 1994.

Gambian hitman Bakakary Dasseh did the damage midway in the first half to give the visitors the vital win at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium in Monrovia, the Liberian capital.

Gambia is expected to host the return leg in two weeks.

Text & Photo: Peter N. Toby