The Ministry of Youth and Sports has said it has learnt with ‘shock’ and ‘disbelief’ the attitude of the Gabonese delegation upon their arrival at the Banjul International Airport last night.
“Despite 20:00hrs [arrival time] was [the] communication to the officials in The Gambia, the Gabonese delegation arrival in The Gambia around 12midnight,” the ministry in a statement on Monday said.
The statement added: “We learnt that upon their arrival at Banjul International Airport, the delegation refused to surrender their Covid-19 test certificates to the public health officials; equally they refused to be tested at the airport and put up with unfavourable behaviours [sic].
“The public health officials on duty did not allow them to leave the airport without being tested until 05:30am after the matter was reported to the Match Commissioner by Mr. Lamin Jassey, General Secretary together with GFF President Mr . Lamin Kaba Bajo to CAF Medical Officer by Dr. Omar Sey , who is designated as CAF medical officer for this match.
“The public health officials were given assurance by the Gabonese sports minister and the ambassador that tests will be conducted on each member of the delegation at their Hotel. It was after this assurance the delegation was allowed to leave the airport.
“The matter is currently under discussion at the Technical/ coordination meeting at Football house spearheaded by the match commissioner.
“The public would kept posted about the reaction of CAF regarding this very unpleasant behaviour of the Gabonese delegation.”
