The Gambia coach Tom Saintfiet said he feared a plane had crashed into his hotel after experiencing Friday’s devastating Morocco earthquake.
The Belgian and his team are in Marrakesh for Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Congo.
The country’s interior ministry said more than 820 people have died as a result of the quake.
Measuring magnitude 6.8, it sent people rushing into the streets in Marrakesh and other cities.
Saintfiet described the experience as “shocking and terrible”.
Sunday’s game, which was due to decide who goes through to next year’s AFCON finals in the Ivory Coast, was being played in the Moroccan city of Marrakech because The Gambia’s stadium was deemed unfit to host internationals.
The Confederation of African Football is in talks with the Moroccan FA about whether the game will take place but Saturday’s qualifier between Morocco and Liberia, which was due to take place in Agadir, has already been called off.
CAF said: “The national football family extends its sincere condolences and compassion to the families of the victims and wishes a speedy recovery to the injured.”
Saintfiet added that some of the squad who play in Turkey had also experienced February’s earthquake, which killed former Newcastle player Christian Atsu, and were in shock.