January 11 – The Gambia’s African Nations Cup preparations took a turn for the worse on Wednesday when their flight to Ivory Coast had to return to Banjul airport because of a lack of oxygen on the aircraft. Belgian coach Tom Saintfiet said “they escaped death.”
Gambia’s players had refused to participate in a farewell training session in Gambia over a bonus dispute with the local FA, but after being persuaded to board a flight to Ivory Coast, the host nation of this year’s Africa Cup of Nations, the flight was forced to make a u-turn with a lack of oxygen causing players and members of staff to fall asleep on the plane.
“We escaped death,” Saintfiet told Insideworldfootball.
“After nine minutes we had to return because there was no oxygen. We all fell asleep and if that had lasted a lack of oxygen would have led to our death. We are back in The Gambia and some players will train. Everyone is shocked. Lots of players have headaches and are sick. It is shocking after the earthquake we survived in Marrakesh,” he continued.
“I fell asleep a few times and I had visions of parts of my life. I didn’t realise it, but I had the feeling – am I dying? It was very strange.”
The failure of the flight to get the team to Ivory Coast has derailed The Gambia’s preparation ahead of their first match on Monday’s against defending champions Senegal.
They had already travelled for 30 hours from their training camp in Saudi Arabia to meet with local politicians in The Gambia. Players who were already angry over the bonus disputes are now further unsettled by the aborted flight.
On social media, Saidy Janko relayed his story: “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 condition(ing) would start once we are in the sky.”
“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. Whilst in the Air, the situation got worse, leaving the pilot with no other option, than initiating an emergency landing back in Banjul airport nine minutes after takeoff. Which happened successfully. If it wasn’t for this, the consequences could have been a lot worse !!!”
At the last Africa Cup of Nations, debutants The Gambia were the revelation of the tournament, reaching the quarter-finals, losing host nation Cameroon.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1734937424labto1734937424ofdlr1734937424owedi1734937424sni@i1734937424tnuk.1734937424ardni1734937424mas1734937424