Home News AFCON 2024: Gambia Football Team Narrow Escape Flight Pass Out
NewsSports

AFCON 2024: Gambia Football Team Narrow Escape Flight Pass Out

974

Gambia national football team, known as the Scorpions, narrowly averted a potential tragedy as their chartered flight en route to the Africa Cup of Nations made an emergency landing due to a sudden loss of oxygen.

The ordeal unfolded on Wednesday when the aircraft, operated by Air Cote d’Ivoire, took off for Ivory Coast. After merely nine minutes in the air, the crew detected technical problems, prompting the decision to return to Banjul, Gambia’s capital, the Gambia Sports Federation reported in a Facebook press release.

“Preliminary investigations indicated a loss of cabin pressure and oxygen,” stated the federation, highlighting the gravity of the situation.

Belgian coach Tom Saintfiet, who was on board, revealed the team’s brush with disaster. “We all suffered from carbon monoxide poisoning. Some players did not wake up immediately after landing,” he shared with Belgian broadcaster VRT, underscoring the severity of the incident.

Gambian player Saidy Janko took to Instagram to describe the distressing moments of the flight. “The lack of oxygen left people with severe headaches and extreme dizziness, with people falling asleep within minutes of takeoff,” he expressed.

The airline, Air Cote d’Ivoire, is actively assessing the situation to identify the cause of the oxygen shortage and cabin pressure issues.

The incident has raised concerns as the Africa Cup of Nations is set to kick off in Ivory Coast on Saturday. 

The tournament’s 34th edition, originally scheduled for June and July last year, was postponed to avoid Ivory Coast’s tropical rainy season.

Despite the unnerving experience, the Gambia national football team is determined to proceed with their participation. The federation announced that the team is expected to take another flight to Ivory Coast on Thursday afternoon and then travel to Yamoussoukro, where some matches are scheduled to take place.

Read: UK Prime Minister Faces Opposition from His Camp Over UK-Rwanda Asylum Scheme Plan

About The Author

Related Articles

Nigeria: Tinubu Regime Suspends Illegal State of Emergency Rule in Rivers State
News

Nigeria: Tinubu Regime Suspends Illegal State Of Emergency Rule In Rivers State

The Bola Tinubu-led regime has suspended the illegal state of emergency rule...

Ghana's transit trade
NewsTravel

Ghana Defends Decision to Accept U.S. Deportees, Rejects Claims of Endorsing Trump’s Immigration Policy

Ghana’s government has defended its decision to accept West African migrants deported...

In a ministerial meeting of the Confederation of Sahel States (AES) held in Bamako on January 16, 2025, key decisions emerging from the session include establishing a Regional Investment Bank and launching transformative infrastructure projects across member states.
News

Niamey Hosts Second Meeting Of Justice Ministers of CSS, Discussions Focus on Judicial Reforms and Regional Integration

Niamey on Monday played host to the second meeting of justice ministers...

News

Former Niger Minister Ibrahim Yacoubou Questioned Over Alleged Human Sacrifice Case

The Attorney General at the Niamey Court of Appeal has confirmed that...