GASSAMA MISSES
Rangers winger Djeidi Gassama endured a painful night with Mauritania after missing a crucial penalty against Benin.
Gassama started the match and produced one of Mauritania’s strongest individual performances despite the eventual 2-1 defeat.
The Rangers attacker completed both of his attempted dribbles and registered two shots. His performance earned him a 7.4 rating from Sofascore, the highest among Mauritania’s players according to reports.
But one moment overshadowed much of his work.
With Mauritania trailing by two goals, Gassama stepped forward from the penalty spot with an opportunity to bring his country back into the match.
He missed.
Mauritania later scored from another penalty, but Benin held on to secure the victory.
The miss was particularly unusual for Gassama because it was reportedly the first penalty he had failed to convert during a senior career in normal time.
His previous three penalties for Paris Saint-Germain youth teams had all been successful.
The Rangers winger therefore has an immediate chance to put the disappointment behind him.
His performances for Mauritania have shown that he can create danger from wide areas, even when the result does not go his team’s way.
Rangers will now want their player to return to Glasgow focused and ready.
One missed penalty does not erase the positive parts of his performance.