The Gambia surrendered a first-half lead to suffer a 3-1 defeat against Iran in an international friendly played in Antalya, Turkey, on Friday.
The Scorpions made an encouraging start and took the lead before halftime through captain Omar Colley, who found the net to put Gambia ahead against the Asian side.
Gambia looked poised to carry their advantage into the second half, but Iran responded strongly after the break. Aria Yousefi restored parity for Iran before veteran defender Ramin Rezaeian completed the turnaround with a second goal.
Iranian striker Mehdi Taremi later added a third to seal the victory and deny Gambia a positive result despite their promising opening performance.
The match formed part of Gambia’s preparations for upcoming international assignments and offered valuable experience against one of Asia’s leading football nations.
Although the result ended in disappointment, Gambia showed signs of resilience and organisation during the first half, with Colley’s goal highlighting the team’s attacking potential.
Head coach Jonathan McKinstry will take lessons from the encounter as the Scorpions continue their build-up toward future competitive fixtures, with the coaching staff expected to assess both the positives and areas requiring improvement following the defeat.
For Iran, the victory provided a morale boost ahead of the FIFA World Cup, while Gambia will now turn their attention to maintaining momentum and refining their preparations for forthcoming international challenges.
