African U-17 champions, the Gambia, are receiving rave reviews in the Peruvian city of Piura after two incredible wins against tournament favorites Brazil and Qatar.

Not only have the Gambians been exciting on the pitch.

They have also managed to whip up a real carnival in the city for the last seven days since the tournament got underway.

The local airwaves have been flooded with news on the stupendous performance of the Gambians and the accompanying passionate support of Gambian fans who flew all the way from Banjul for their team's last game against Qatar.

Most of the local dailies in Piura have colourful photographs of the Gambian fans chanting in support of their young heroes splashed on their front pages while others have on display the celebrations by the team.

The banner headline of the Wednesday edition of the 'LA HORA’ newspaper read 'Gambian Plane Excites Piura' while the 'EL TIEMPO' had 'SHOCKING LANDING' (literally translated) displayed on its front page; both in reference to the 'emergency' landing made by AIR RUM a few hours before Gambia's game against Qatar.

With a colorful photograph of Gambian fans clad in their national colours with painted faces chanting cheer tunes, the LA HORA relates how the Gambian fans managed to outwit the security at the Piura airport to arrive at the Miguel Grau Stadium in time for Tuesday's tie.

The Gambian fans, bent on watching their team in action at all costs, somehow managed to convince the aircraft to undergo an emergency landing in Piura instead of the designated airport at Lima.

And while security personnel and ambulances were anxious to ascertain what emergency situation had arisen, the fans stealthily marched out of the airport and found their way to the stadium for the match.

Gambia's exploits at the tournament is rubbing off Ghana in a healthy manner.

Every black person is assumed to be a Gambian and is mobbed on the streets of Piura by the natives who are fascinated by the scintillating showings by the African champions.

The Gambia will play their last group D game against Holland in Lima today.


Report by: Eva Okyere (Joy Sports correspondent in Peru)