Gambia national football team narrowly averted a potential disaster when the oxygen supply on their flight from Gambia to Ivory Coast malfunctioned en route to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Gambian journalist Sané Malang reported that some players experienced fainting spells due to the lack of oxygen on board, prompting the aircraft to return to Gambia.
As a result, two players are grappling with the trauma of the incident.
According to a report by First Mag+, the unsettling situation was attributed to the confined size of the plane.
In a recent tweet on X (formerly Twitter), Sané Malang revealed that Ivory Coast intervened by dispatching Air Ivoir to transport the Gambian delegation safely to Yamoussoukro.
The incident underscores the critical importance of ensuring proper conditions for the safe travel of sports teams during major tournaments.
“Air Ivoir sent a new plane, which has already arrived in Gambia, to transport the Gambian delegation to Yamoussoukro.”
Gambia finds itself placed in Group C for the upcoming tournament scheduled to commence on January 13, 2024. Their campaign kicks off with a match against Senegal on Monday, January 16.
Subsequently, they will encounter Guinea and Cameroon in their last two group stage matches. The group stage fixtures will be crucial for determining their advancement in the tournament.