In a harrowing incident, the Gambia national football team, known as the “Scorpions,” faced a life-threatening situation when their chartered flight to Ivory Coast for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) made an emergency landing due to a sudden loss of oxygen.
The plane, operated by Air Cote d’Ivoire, returned to Banjul, Gambia’s capital, after just nine minutes of flight when the crew identified technical problems related to a loss of cabin pressure and oxygen, as revealed by the Gambia Sports Federation in a Facebook press release.
Currently, Air Cote d’Ivoire is conducting investigations to determine the cause of the oxygen deficiency and pressure loss in the cabin. The incident has raised serious concerns about the safety of the aircraft and the well-being of the Gambia AFCON 2023 squad.
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Belgian coach Tom Saintfiet, who was on the plane, spoke to Belgian broadcaster VRT, stating that the team narrowly escaped death and suffered from carbon monoxide poisoning. Some players even failed to wake up immediately after landing.
Gambian player Saidy Janko shared the ordeal on Instagram, describing how the lack of oxygen caused severe headaches and extreme dizziness, with some individuals falling asleep within minutes of takeoff.
The 34th edition of AFCON is set to begin on Saturday in Ivory Coast, and the Gambia team is expected to take another flight on Thursday afternoon to fulfill their participation. Despite this traumatic experience, the Scorpions aim to regroup and compete in the tournament, underscoring the resilience and determination of the players and coaching staff.
