The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has launched an investigation into the airport controversy involving Gabon football team and Gambian authorities. 

CAF said in a press statement a disciplinary commission will “examine the causes of this incident, so as to establish the responsibilities and apply the consequent sanctions.”

The African football governing body also said it ‘deplored’ the incident and had held a video conference call with all parties on Monday before announcing the investigation.

The Gabonese delegation had complained to CAF that they were forced to spend several hours sleeping on the airport floor as they were not allowed to leave.

Gabon captain Pierre Emerick Aubameyang posted footage on his social media of the team trying to sleep on the airport floor explaining the authorities had taken their passports so preventing the delegation from going to their hotel.

However the Gambian authorities have clarified that the incident was due to the Gabonese refusal to follow the country’s coronavirus protocols. 

Gambian health authorities said the Gabonese delegation failed to produce the relevant paperwork for negative Covid-19 tests and also refused to undergo swabs on arrival.

Meanwhile The Gambia beat Gabon 2-1  to top Group D in the AFCON qualifying round. The win is likely to be overshadowed by the airport controversy in the hours before the match.