Gambia claim historic first UFOA-A U17 title after penalty shootout win over Senegal

The Gambia’s Baby Scorpions have won the UFOA-A U17 Championship for the first time after beating Senegal 5-4 on penalties in a dramatic final at the Stade Leopold Sedar Senghor in Dakar.

The match finished goalless after 90 minutes, with neither side able to break the deadlock. The title was therefore decided from the spot, where The Gambia held their nerve to secure a landmark victory.

First title for The Gambia

The result marks the first time The Gambia’s under-17 team has been crowned champions of the Zone A competition organised by the Union des Federations Ouest-Africaines de Football (UFOA-A).

The Baby Scorpions produced a disciplined performance against the hosts and remained composed throughout a tightly contested encounter. Senegal also defended strongly, ensuring the final stayed level until the penalty shootout.

The outcome gave The Gambia their first trophy in the history of the UFOA-A U17 Championship and added a significant achievement to the country’s football record.

Decisive penalties

The Gambian players handled the pressure of the shootout, converting five penalties to Senegal’s four. That narrow advantage settled a final in which there had been little to separate the two teams during open play.

Celebrations followed immediately in the Gambian camp as the players marked a historic success. Their victory completed the team’s run through the tournament and secured the country’s first championship in the competition.

A new chapter

By overcoming Senegal in Dakar, The Gambia finished the tournament at the top of the UFOA-A U17 Zone A competition.

The triumph represents more than a first title for the Baby Scorpions. It is a major moment for Gambian football and gives the country’s young players a place in the history of the regional tournament.

The Baby Scorpions are now officially champions of the UFOA-A U17 Championship, with their penalty-shootout success set to remain a defining moment for football in The Gambia.