Footballers from Senegal, Gambia and Sierra Leone have been trapped after army mutineers took control of Ivory Coast's second city, Bouake, Senegalese radio reported today.
The footballers, who are all staying in the same hotel in Bouake, are taking part in the final phase of the West African Cup (UFOA) at Abidjan and Bouake from September 18-29.
"We're not safe, there are soldiers who are going by us (in the hotel)," Kalidou Cissoko, goalkeeper for Senegal's Under-21 team, told Senegal's Walf-FMradio station by telephone.
According to Cissoko gunshots were fired into hotel rooms, but he did not say whether anyone was injured. Senegalese football federation president El Hadji Malick Sy added that calm had returned but pointed out that they were no longer in contact with Ivorian authorities.