Trouble ahead for scorpions as prospect of further delay looms over charter flight

Coach Tom Saintfiet an animated man stuck in Brussels with his charges

By Abdoulie Bah

The scorpions are gearing up for a crucial battle in AFCON qualifying but already the status of the game against Angola is being foreshadowed by controversy over team selection and now a delay in the chartered flight that was expected to land the team on Monday.

At stake in the battle that is set to be played out at the Independence Stadium in Bakau on Thursday afternoon is a highly anticipated first-ever ticket to an Africa Cup of Nations for the small West African country, sitting narrowly at the top of Group D with 7 points ahead of Gabon and Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

However, the sports ministry’s genuine efforts to replicate the charter of a special plane for the team from Brussels have stranded leaving several fans nervous about the state of preparedness for Thursday.

On Monday night The Gambia Football Federation took to its platforms to confirm news of the delay in departure that began circulating earlier in the day citing unspecified technical reasons

“The Gambia Football Federation (GFF) regrets to inform the general public that, due to technical reasons, the chaterred flight that supposed to transport the Scorpions players to Banjul couldn't leave Brussels as scheduled.

However, the GFF in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth & Sports, is working tirelessly with the charter operator to ensure that the flight arrive with the players tomorrow, Tuesday, 23rd March 2021 at 20:00GMT.

We apologise for any inconvenience that this delay may cause.”

As expected news of the delay got Gambian fans  on the edge and there was no holding back in some of the reactions monitored under the Federations press release via social media