Gambia's national football team, the "Scorpions," faced a life-threatening situation when their chartered flight en route to the Africa Cup of Nations tournament had to make an emergency landing due to a sudden loss of oxygen.
The ordeal unfolded as the plane, operated by Air Cote d’Ivoire, returned to Banjul after only nine minutes in the air, prompted by the crew's realization of technical problems. Preliminary investigations revealed a loss of cabin pressure and oxygen, raising concerns about the flight's safety.
The team's Belgian coach, Tom Saintfiet, recounted the perilous experience, noting that players suffered from carbon monoxide poisoning, with some not immediately waking up after landing.
Gambia's Football Federation is coordinating with Air Cote d’Ivoire to determine the root cause of the oxygen and cabin pressure issues. Despite the traumatic event, the team plans to resume their journey to Ivory Coast for the Africa Cup, emphasizing the resilience required in the face of such unexpected challenges.
