December 10, 2021
The Orange Junior Challenge (OJC) has reached its climax as two exciting communities of young players are set to battle each other for a place for twelve players in Cameroon in January 2022. The final is set for Saturday, 11th December at the X-ray Arena at 1:00 PM.
The two teams will be coming with high hopes of getting the lifetime experience to be part of the African Cup of Nations.
Fourah Bay Community (Orthodox FC) who in their first match had a comfortable 4-2 win against Hill Station Community, survived two different scares against fellow eastern contenders, Wellington (Hopanda FC) to go through to the finals after penalty kicks. The initial match ended in 2-2 draw. Wellington Community took an early lead through their mask man Abdulai Jalloh, a lead they preserved unto the break.
Fourah Bay Community after the break, came determined and was quick to restore parity through a clever one-two play between striker Augustine Moris and team captain Mohamed N. Kamara. The calmly slotted the ball into the bottom left hand corner. Fourah took the lead few minutes later and this time it’s courtesy of their goal poacher, Augustine Moris, capitalizing on a weak defensive play from Wellington’s captain Ibrahim Kamara.
Two poor goal keeping decisions from Yayah L. Turay, Fourah Bay’s goalkeeper, cost him his space in the match as he was shown the red after two yellows for handling the ball out of the box. Wellington Community will equalize thereafter.
During penalties, player-goalkeeper Osman Sankoh saved the first two penalties taken by Wellington Community players. Fourah Bay went on to win by four goals to two after the heroics of the makeshift goalkeeper.
The second semi final match of the day between Wilberforce (Legend FC) and Wilkinson Road (Lima FC), did not create the type of fireworks and individual brilliance the first match produced. A naïve Wilkinson side could not contain a rampant Wilberforce Community side which won their first match by four goals to nil.
Despite a brave show in the early stages of the first half, initial signs clearly shows Wilkinson Road’s weaknesses. On fire striker and the challenge top scorer, Ibrahim Amara, opened scoring late in the first half. Moments later, a strike from Emmanuel Tarawally placed Wilberforce in a comfortable position before the break.
Mid-way through the second half, Amara who scored a hat trick in his side’s four-nil thumping of Cline Town in their first match, got his second for the day and fifth in total with an exquisite finish. Wilkinson brought in more Arsenals for them to at least get a consolation in the match, but Wilberforce defense was too resolute to let a goal in.
The match ended 3-0 to Wilberforce, sending them to the final with seven goals scored and two clean sheets kept.
Twenty four goals have been scored so far in six matches. Wilberforce Community have scored the highest number of goals which seven, keeping two clean sheets in the process and as well having the challenge leading goal scorer with five.
Meanwhile, Fourah Community have scored six goals, with no clean sheet kept and are having one of the challenge second top scorer, Augustine Moris, who has scored four goals.
The stakes are high in Saturday’s meeting between the two youth teams: which of them will make the trip to Cameroon?…