The Gambia Under 17 team halted their two-match losing streak and restored confidence with a 2-0 victory over Portsmouth academy side yesterday.

The win was Baby Scorpions first success since arriving in England for a three-week training camp as part of final preparations for the FIFA U-17 World Cup finals to be hosted in Nigeria later this month. The African champions lost 0-2 to their American counterparts in their first warm-up match.

The second game against the same side, who are also preparing for the Nigeria event, saw the Baby Scorpions suffered a woeful 5-0 loss. After a one week busy session at the training ground, the Baby Scorpions returned to the pitch with a clash against the Pompey cadet side. It took goals from striker duo Ebrima Bojang and Buba Jallow to send back the two-time African champions on the winning track. Up next for the Gambian side is a weekend clash against the Chelsea academy.

The Baby Scorpions will also play against Tottenham Hotspur academy on October 10 and play their last game in the UK on October 15 against Leicester City, before returning to Banjul on October 17 to round up their build-up for the Nigeria finals, which is fixed between October 24 and November 14.

Coach Tarik Siagy is presently working with 26 players all whom will be vying for one of 21 places on the final World Cup roster. The Gambia, who are only making their second appearance in the age-category competition, have been paired alongside Iran, Colombia and Holland in Group C that will be based in Nigeria's southeastern city of Calabar.