‘I didn’t want to speak to anyone, it hurts’: Ebou Adams’ pain fuelling Portsmouth midfielder’s bid for glory
The Pompey favourite has suffered recent international heartache with The Gambia - something he’s currently trying to put right in Afcon qualifying.
Ebou Adams has revealed the Africa Cup of Nations pain driving him to pursue international success with The Gambia.
And the Pompey midfielder has outlined his determination to put right his country’s failure to make the finals of the last African continental tournament, after making a winning start to their qualification bid.
Ebou Adams: ‘ I was lost for words, I didn’t want to speak to anyone’
The Scorpions got off to a winning opening yesterday as they defeated Somalia 2-1, with Adams coming off the bench in the second half in Bakau.
Goals from Ebrima Colley and Suleiman Camara gave the home side the three points on their return to the Independence Stadium after five years.
Adams welcomed that development, but aired his frustration at failing to qualify for the last finals in Morocco at the start of the year.
That’s after two successful qualifying campaigns in 2021 and 2023, after The Gambia went out in quarter-finals and group stages.
Adams’ association with the west African nation stretches back eight years and 31 caps, with the former Derby County man now fired out to deliver more success, as they face a testing trip to Ghana next Tuesday.
Adams told Jiyal Sports: ‘I’ll be honest it’s hard to describe (being back at the Independence Stadium).
‘Surviving member is a good way to describe it.
‘The last time I played here was a good five or six years ago.
‘I can’t describe it, I’m just excited to play on that pitch in front of the Gambian fans.
‘It’s been a long time waiting.
‘You qualify for one Afcon, you qualify for two and then you think you should be qualifying for every one.
‘The last Afcon we were very much disappointed.
‘I sat in that changing room after Comoros had scored in the last minute, I was lost for words.
‘I didn’t want to speak to anyone, as a country and a player yourself you expect to qualify for every Afcon.
‘It hurts and we’ve got one now to put it right.’
The Gambia currently sit second in the Group C table after their opening match, with Ghana losing to Ivory Coast in the other fixture.
Two teams will progress to the finals in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda after six games, with Adams pleased to see a win on the board.
He added: ‘They were not easy, I thought Somalia came here and did really well.
‘I’m a little bit disappointed we didn’t take the game by the scruff of the neck and win by two or three.
‘But like I said the most important thing is we win the game, get the three points and go on from there.’