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PHOTOS: Stranded Aubameyang, Gabon Teammates Sleep On Airport Floor

Arsenal striker, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and his Gabonese teammates were on Sunday stranded on their way to an Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against The Gambia.


A photo combination of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and his teammates stranded before their game against The Gambia.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
A photo combination of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and his teammates stranded before their game against The Gambia. Photo: Instagram@Aubameyang7

 

Arsenal striker, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and his Gabonese teammates were on Sunday stranded on their way to an Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against The Gambia.

The former Borussia Dortmund man shared videos and photos of the team stranded at the Banjul International Airport on his Instagram stories.

Gabon’s Panthers were billed to take on The Gambia (a match they lost 2-1) in a Group D qualifier for the competition scheduled for 2022 in Cameroon.

The Gabonese football federation also shared photos and videos of the team sleeping on the airport floor on its Facebook page but made no comment about the issue.

In a series of tweets on its official handle, the Gambian Ministry of Youths and Sports explained that the Gabonese delegation was not allowed to leave the Airport because they “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.

“The public health officials on duty did not allow them to leave the airport without being tested until 05:30 am after the matter was reported to the Match Commissioner by Mr Lamin Jassey, General Secretary.”

The Ministry explained that “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.”

 

A furious Aubameyang while replying to a tweet, urged the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to take responsibility.

“This will not demotivate us, but people need to know and CAF need to take responsibility,” the 2019/2020 joint-highest goalscorer added. “(It is) 2020 and we want Africa to grow, but this is not how we will get there.”


See photos of the Gabon players sleeping at the Banjul International Airport: