This archive report was first published on 22 June 2021.
On June 21, 2021, Gambia's national football team made history by qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Cameroon. However, their achievement was marred by a dispute over bonuses.
The players, who were expecting a bonus of 11 million Dalasi (approximately Ksh 23,000,000), felt that the amount was insufficient to reflect the magnitude of their achievement. They were also concerned that accepting the money would set a precedent for the future.
According to a letter written to the Gambia Football Federation (GFF) president Lamin Kaba Bajo, the players declined the invitation to meet President Adama Barrow on Monday. The letter stated, 'The team would like to thank His Excellency for the invitation but would kindly decline the invitation to meet and the money offered.'
The players emphasized that playing for Gambia was not primarily about money, but about flying the Gambian flag higher and making the Gambian people proud. They had always been happy to answer calls to play for the national team without expecting or asking for anything in return.
However, the players felt that the respect and motivation given to them fell below what it was supposed to be. They unanimously decided to decline the invitation, stating, 'If the GFF accepts the offer it would not be doing so on behalf of the players. We hope that going forward, the players would be given enough motivation as the preparations for the African cup continue.'
