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Gambia national football team's Africa Cup of Nations journey took an unexpected turn mid-flight prompting a return home.
The Gambian national football team experienced a harrowing start to their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations journey as they were forced to make a quick U-turn to Banjul shortly after their flight took off.
The entire squad, filled with hopes and aspirations, was en route to Abidjan when a sudden technical problem onboard their chartered flight became apparent.
This unexpected turn of events left the team and their fans on edge, but fortunately, everyone was safe and in sound health.
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Upon landing back in Banjul, preliminary investigations revealed a loss of cabin pressure and oxygen, raising grave concerns about the well-being of the players, coaches, and staff onboard.
Scorpions coach Tom Saintfiet recounted the harrowing experience, stating, "We could all have been dead. We all fell asleep quickly. Me, too. I had short dreams about how my life was done. Really and truly. After nine minutes, the pilot decided to return because there was no oxygen supply. Some players did not wake up [until] immediately after landing. We almost got carbon monoxide poisoning. Another half-hour of flying and we would all have been dead."
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Former Manchester United player Saidy Janko described the conditions in an Instagram post, saying, "Unacceptable. After traveling 32 hours in total from Saudi Arabia (Training Camp) to The Gambia with long layovers in Istanbul and Casablanca, we were supposed to fly from Gambia to Ivory Coast for the AFCON today."
"As soon as we entered the small plane that was hired to fly us, we noticed the immense heat that left us dripping in sweat. It was assured to us by the crew that the air conditioning would start once we are in the sky," he added.
"The inhumane heat mixed with the occurring lack of oxygen left many people with strong headaches and extreme dizziness. Furthermore, people started falling deeply asleep minutes after entering the aircraft/takeoff."
According to the federation's official statement, the flight had been in the air for just nine minutes when the crew realized a critical issue. They swiftly made the decision to return to Banjul in the interest of everyone's safety.
The technical team from Air Cote d'Ivoire, the operating company of the flight, is currently conducting a thorough assessment to determine the root cause of the oxygen and cabin pressure issues.
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In the meantime, the Gambian national football team, also known as the Scorpions, has been temporarily relocated to a hotel in Bakau while awaiting further instructions.
This unforeseen delay has undoubtedly disrupted their carefully planned preparations for the tournament, but their primary focus remains on ensuring the safety and well-being of everyone involved.
Omar Colley, a prominent Gambian defender, shed some light on the situation as he noted, "The team's departure had to be delayed after reportedly losing oxygen on the flight carrying the entire Gambian squad en route to Abidjan."
As the team regroups and awaits updates on the situation, the entire nation of The Gambia is holding its breath, hoping for a swift resolution that will allow their beloved Scorpions to continue their quest for glory in the Ivory Coast.
Gambia's Group C campaign in the tournament is set to kick off against none other than the defending champions, Senegal, in Yamoussoukro on Monday.
This highly anticipated clash has captured the imagination of football fans across the region, and the Scorpions are eager to prove their mettle on the grand stage.
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