Bakary Y. Badjie, Minister of Youth and Sports, said that the Gambia’s government has given D171,000,000.00, or one hundred and seventy-one million Dalasis, to the country’s participation in the AFCON in Ivory Coast.

He claimed that through the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, the government has already paid 150 million.

The Scorpions’ coach, Tom Sanfiet, had admitted earlier in the day that the players’ absence from practice on Tuesday was due to financial difficulties. He declined to elaborate on the outstanding bonus issue, stating that he is not authorized to discuss matters related to compensation.

Prior to the planned practice, Coach Sanfiet disclosed that he got a call from the team captain informing him of the players’ choice to skip it. He couldn’t go into specifics, but he was positive that money was the root of the problem.

Meanwhile, Minister Bakary Badjie has informed us that the president has given orders to make sure that the Scorpions players receive their game bonuses on time. The minister promised that this Wednesday morning, the bonuses would be paid out.

On behalf of the players, Omar Colley, Team Captain, thanks the MoYS, the government, and all other stakeholders who helped make the nation’s second AFCON appearance a success.

“On behalf of the national team, we want to thank the government for the support. Even though sometimes our demands are high, we are doing that in the interest of the Gambia,” Colley said.

The Vice President of the Republic, Mr. Mohamed BS. Jallow, gave the team captain the battle flag on Tuesday.