Gambia are facing a tough task to make it through but Burkina Faso have a chance

African champions Gambia suffered their second defeat at the Under-17 World Cup after going down 2-1 to the Netherlands on Wednesday in Nigeria.

In the day's other game involving an African team, Burkina Faso secured a 1-1 draw with New Zealand in a match which had to be suspended at one point because of torrential rain in Enugu.

The Dutch took the lead against Gambia in the Group C game in Calabar thanks to a 19th minute strike by Luc Castaignos.

The Baby Scorpions drew level seven minutes later through Ebrima Bojang.

The skipper restored hope for the Gambians after converting the penalty after Ruben Ligeon hauled down Lamin Sarjo Samateh in the box.

But Tom Boere delivered a crushing blow to the hopes of the West Africans with a 70th minute header.

The Netherlands were lucky to hang on as the Gambian opponents laid siege to their goal late in the game.

The defeat all but ends Gambia's hopes of reaching the knock-out phase of the tournament as they are bottom on Group D with no points.

Gambia need to win their last game against Colombia on Saturday to stand any chance of advancing to the next round.

The Netherlands, who have three points, will take on Iran on the same day.

In the late game, which was also interrupted by heavy rain, Iran and Colombia drew 0-0, and so are joint top with four points each.

Meanwhile in Group D Burkina Faso's match against New Zealand took much longer than expected to complete.

Torrential rain forced the referee to take the players from the field just after the hour mark.

The Burkinabe had been in the lead from the 12th minute thanks to Victor Nikiema.

But it was 1-1 when the teams went off for their unscheduled break, because Gordon Murie had equalised 12 minutes into the second half.

Burkina Faso remain bottom on goal difference.

The weather got worse in Enugu and the match between Turkey and Costa Rica was abandoned and will be replayed on Thursday.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version