APA-Banjul (The Gambia) The latter stages of Gambia’s preparation for the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast have been marred by a row over player allowance.
A further prolongation of the tension around the national team was averted after monies the players were demanding as match bonuses for securing qualification were paid.
They had threatened to boycott the tournament in Ivory Coast if their expectation was not met by the sports ministry.
Apparently aggrieved national team players on Tuesday refused to train for the last time at the Independence Stadium where thousands of fans had amassed to catch a glimpse of the Scorpions before leaving for their second ever AfCON tournament.
Fans vented their frustration from the stands by throwing plastic bottles on the pitch after it became clear that the players would not show up for training and to be serenaded as part of a rousing sendoff planned by their supporters.
A representative of the players said they refused to show up and train at the national stadium in protest over unpaid wages which eventually was settled following the personal intervention of President Adama Barrow who instructed that D38 million (over $500, 000) be paid as bonuses for qualifying for the second consecutive AfCON tournament.
Captain Omar Colley has apologised to the fans.
The Scorpions face defending champions Senegal, five-time winners Cameroon and Guinea in the group stage of the competition.
They will open their account in a Senegambian derby on January 15th.
The Gambia reached the quarterfinal before eventually bowing out to hosts Cameroon in their debut.
Meanwhile the team’s journey to Ivory Coast was aborted nine minutes into the flight after their plane developed a technical fault on Tuesday evening.
The Gambia Football Federation released a statement saying the team and delegation safely landed back in Banjul where fresh arrangements are being made for them to fly out to Ivory Coast.
Earlier on Tuesday, Gambia’s Vice President, Muhammed BS Jallow, on behalf of President Adama Barrow, who was away in Mauritania to receive a presidential award for peace handed the battle flag to the Scorpions in a ceremony at State House.
VP Jallow exhorted the Scorpions to assert themselves in the tournament.
Receiving the flag Captain Omar Colley assured Gambians that the Scorpions will work their socks off to go beyond the quarterfinal achieved in the last AFCON.
WN/as/APA