Gambia National Football Team Faces Life-Threatening Ordeal En Route to AFCON 2023 in Ivory Coast

In a harrowing turn of events, the Gambia national football team, en route to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast, narrowly escaped a potentially fatal situation during a flight that was abruptly aborted. Coach Tom Saintfiet revealed that the Air Cote d’Ivoire flight faced a severe pressurization issue, which could have resulted in tragic consequences.

The alarming incident unfolded just minutes after the flight departed from Banjul, Gambia’s capital, on Wednesday. According to Saintfiet, a lack of oxygen led many members of the delegation to fall asleep, emphasizing the severity of the conditions on board. The quick thinking of the pilot, who noticed the distressing situation, was credited by the coach for ensuring the safety of the team.

Saintfiet commended the pilot’s decision to turn back, stating, “If the flight had gone on for another 30 minutes, the whole team would have died.” He expressed shock at the incident, highlighting the concerning fact that oxygen masks did not deploy during the crisis.

Air Cote d’Ivoire, the official airline of AFCON 2023, confirmed the pressurization issue and mentioned that it could have been resolved by a ground mechanic. However, the flight was ultimately canceled due to the impact of earlier delays on the crew’s working hours.

While Saintfiet raised concerns about possible carbon monoxide poisoning, Gambia Football Federation president Lamin Kaba Bajo refuted the claim, stating there was no evidence to support it. Bajo emphasized that the passengers, including the coach, did not experience any collapse or incidents during the flight.

This incident comes four months after the Gambian team faced the devastating earthquake in Marrakesh, Morocco, in September 2022, which claimed over 2,000 lives. Despite the challenging experience during the aborted flight, the Gambia national team opted to engage in training upon their return to Banjul.

“Some players could not train because of what happened. They still have headaches and that is worrying, while some of the players are still dizzy,” revealed Saintfiet. Despite the physical and mental strain, the team aimed to release stress through training.

The Gambia national team, having reached the quarter-finals in their maiden Nations Cup appearance two years ago, is set to face neighbors Senegal in their opening game on Monday. The football community remains on edge, hoping for a swift recovery for the affected players and staff as they navigate this unprecedented and challenging situation on the road to AFCON 2023.

Mr. Azhar ul Haq Wahid - Editor Mr. Azhar ul Haq Wahid joins "To The Sports News" as an Editor, bringing a decade of comprehensive journalistic experience to our team. A respected Pakistani journalist, he has dedicated his career to covering a wide array of global issues across the world, demonstrating a deep understanding of complex subjects and a commitment to detailed reporting. Mr. Wahid has a background working with prominent print and electronic media organizations, including Channel Five TV, the newspaper "Khabrain," The Nation/Nawa-i-Waqt, NNI, Daily Sama, City 42, Star Asia, Waqt News, Daily The Business, and Daily The Khabrain. His work has covered areas such as Environment, Health, and Sports. He is also a member of the Lahore Press Club, the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), and the Society of Environmental Journalists (SEJ), highlighting his dedication to journalistic standards and diverse reporting. His academic background includes a BS Honors degree in Sociology and an MPhil from Punjab University, alongside a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Sargodha. Furthermore, Mr. Wahid is a Ph.D. candidate in Journalism at Complutense University of Madrid, and has contributed to research on topics including the relationship of sports participation with achievement, motivation, and innovation traits among university students, and the effects of parental involvement on student participation in sports. With his extensive experience in covering diverse topics and his keen analytical skills, Mr. Azhar ul Haq Wahid is poised to lead our sports news coverage with depth, accuracy, and insightful perspectives, ensuring our readers receive top-tier journalistic content.

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