The Gambia finished second but were the ninth-best runners-up, in a competition where only eight best second-placed teams went through along with the twelve group winners.

After Dakar's 1-1 draw, the Scorpions were hoping to berth a spot in the next round, should other group matches, more especially the Guinea - Kenya tie, go their way on Sunday.

However, all hopes for Gambia's qualification to the final round withered away after Guinea beat Kenya 3-1 in Conakry to take the last remaining place, when a draw or a Kenya win would have spared The Gambia.

Despite the unaccomplished mission, The Gambia football authorities can still hold their heads high up for what could be described as the Scorpions' "best ever record" in a FIFA World Cup and CAF African Nations Cup qualifier competition.