The Gambian National Team got here inside half-hour of demise after the the cabin oxygen provide failed on their aircraft.
Gambia’s squad, which incorporates Wrexham star Jacob Mendy and Cardiff midfielder Ebou Adams, had been on a flight from the Gambian capital of Banjul to the AFCON hosts Ivory Coast. However, simply 9 minutes after take-off, the plane was pressured to turnaround to Banjul for an emergency touchdown as oxygen provides ran low.
Several gamers reportedly handed out shortly after boarding, whereas former Manchester United man Saidy Janko claimed on Instagram that a few of these on board had been left affected by “strong headaches and extreme dizziness.”
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Gambia’s coach Tom Saintfiet revealed how he feared for his life in an interview with Nieuwsblad. He instructed them: “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 gamers didn’t get up [until] instantly after touchdown. We virtually acquired carbon monoxide poisoning. Another half hour of flying and we might all have been lifeless.”
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(Image: instagram/saidyjanko22)
Janko, who now performs for Young Boys, detailed his horrifying expertise in a put up on Instagram. He wrote: “Unacceptable. After travelling 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 quickly as we entered the small aircraft that was employed to fly us, we seen the immense warmth that left us dripping in sweat. It was assured to us by the crew that the air con would begin as soon as we’re within the sky.
(Image: instagram/saidyjanko22)
“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 within the air, the state of affairs acquired worse, leaving the pilot with no different choice, than initiating an emergency touchdown again in Banjul airport 9 minutes after takeoff. Which occurred efficiently.
“If it wasn’t for this, the consequences could have been a lot worse!!! Knowing what could have happened, if we would have been exposed to the situation for any longer – in an airplane, running out of oxygen…
“We are grateful that everybody is feeling properly however it is a state of affairs that must be addressed going into the AFCON, as being solely considered one of our obstacles on worldwide responsibility. This is unacceptable and [as] such has to stop with fast impact.”
(Image: Paul Greenwood/REX/Shutterstock)
Saintfiet, who’s Belgian, additionally revealed that Gambia should journey to the Ivory Coast on Thursday or they threat being kicked out of AFCON altogether. Their first match is in opposition to Sadio Mane and Senegal on Monday.
The Gambian Football Federation later launched a press release regarding the incident. It learn: “The Chartered Flight carrying the Scorpions to the African cup of Nations has returned to Banjul due to technical problems. The flight was nine minutes airborne when the crew realised and immediately requested to return to Banjul.”