Gambian international winger, Edrissa Sonko, did not hide his bitter regrets on Gambia's failure to qualify for the 2008 Nations Cup finals in Ghana.

As Africa's premier football bonanza ended last night in Accra, Sonko was, in one respect, a frustrated spectator.

Like England's bid to qualify for the European Championships, The Gambia narrowly missed out on the African equivalent and, just as the likes of John Terry and Steven Gerrard will be doing in June and July, the Gambian international has looked on enviously as the events of the competition unfolded in the west African nation.

"If you want to be in a competition but do not qualify then of course you have regrets," he said. "You need a little bit of luck in qualification and, I suppose a bit like England, Gambia did not get much."

"It is hard watching the competition on television when you know you could have been there."

The flip side of Gambia's failure to qualify is that Edrissa Sonko has been able to stay in England and, especially during January where he picked up the Powerade Player of the Month Award, has been in fine form. It is something he is determined to keep up during the weeks and months ahead.

"I am happy with how I am playing at the moment," he added. "I have been working hard and want to keep playing well."