The Gambian national football team swiftly returned to Banjul shortly after their departure for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
According to reports, the departure of the team had to be postponed due to the reported loss of oxygen on the flight transporting the entire Gambian squad to Abidjan.
The Scorpions are set to compete against defending champions Senegal, five-time champions Cameroon, and Guinea in Group C of the tournament.
In a statement released by the Gambia Football Federation on Thursday, it was revealed that nine minutes into the flight, the plane’s operators encountered technical difficulties, resulting in severe headaches and breathing issues for some players and technical staff.
“The Gambia Football Federation (GFF) regrets to inform the general public that the chartered flight carrying the Scorpions to the Africa Cup of Nations returned to Banjul due to technical problems. The flight was nine minutes long when the crew realised this and immediately requested a return to Banjul. Upon landing, preliminary investigations indicated that there had been a loss of cabin pressure and oxygen.
“However, the technical team of the flight operating company, Air Côte d’Ivoire, is further assessing the situation to establish the cause of the lack of oxygen and pressure in the cabin. In this regard, the team, including players and staff, are now en route to the Ocean Bay Hotel awaiting further instructions,” the statement read.
The football federation has officially verified the safety of the players and technical team, and new arrangements for the departure time have been made.
The 34th edition of the African Nations Cup is scheduled to commence this weekend on January 13 and will continue until February 11, 2024.