Gambiaj.com – (Banjul, The Gambia) – Members of The Gambia’s national Under-16 boys’ and girls’ basketball teams have been flown home after a road accident in Guinea disrupted their journey to the FIBA Africa Zone II Championship in Conakry. The accident, which occurred en route to the tournament by road, left several players and officials injured but, fortunately, resulted in no fatalities.
Acting on the instructions of President Adama Barrow, the Office of the President chartered a private jet to repatriate the team. The aircraft made two inbound trips from Guinea, bringing back all affected players and officials. The final group arrived shortly after midnight at the Banjul International Airport.
A medical team comprising personnel from the Ministry of Health and the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH) was stationed at the airport to examine the returnees.
Ambulances were on standby to transport those requiring immediate care to hospital, while uninjured players were received by officials of the Gambia Basketball Association (GBA) for return to their families.
Youth and Sports Minister Bakary Y. Badjie was present at the airport to receive the team alongside officials from the GBA. He expressed gratitude for the safe return of the athletes and commended the prompt intervention by the presidency.
However, the Sports Journalists Association of The Gambia (SJAG) has issued a strongly worded statement condemning the circumstances that led to the accident.
While expressing relief that no lives were lost and wishing the injured a speedy recovery, SJAG criticized the decision to transport the youth teams to Guinea by bus—a journey it described as “long and potentially dangerous.”
“This incident raises serious concerns about the safety protocols and travel arrangements for our national teams, particularly for our youth,” SJAG said, questioning why safer alternatives like air travel were not prioritized. “The use of a bus for such an international trip is unacceptable and reflects a grave lapse in judgment.”
According to SJAG, the decision not only endangered the lives of the young athletes but also led to their absence from the qualifiers, undermining years of preparation and potentially affecting the future of Gambian basketball.
The organization warned that the psychological impact on the athletes should not be underestimated and called for a transparent investigation into the travel arrangements.
“While we acknowledge the swift action taken by President Barrow and the Office of the President, this does not excuse the initial negligence,” the statement continued. “There must be accountability, and urgent reforms must be implemented to prioritize athlete safety.”
SJAG pledged to monitor the situation closely and advocate for systemic changes to protect national athletes going forward.
As the basketball community and the nation come to terms with the fallout from the incident, the safe return of the teams marks a relief—but also a moment for critical reflection on governance, safety, and responsibility in Gambian sports.
