Gambia survive scare in aborted flight

Gambia head coach Tom Saintfiet has revealed that the squad could have died from carbon monoxide poisoning during their aborted flight to Ivory Coast for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Scorpions were informed by the Air Cote d’Ivoire crew prior to take-off from Banjul that the air conditioning on the plane was faulty, although they claimed there was no risk involved.

However, the delegation started falling asleep due to a lack of oxygen and the pilot decided to turn the plane around after realising there was a real problem on board.

“The local crew said there was a problem with the air conditioning before we took off but that it would be all fine when we took off,” Saintfiet told BBC Sport Africa.

“After a few minutes, it was very hot in the plane. We all fell asleep because there was a lack of oxygen – some of the players couldn’t be woken up. The pilot noticed and we had to return.

“People got headaches and if the flight had gone on for another 30 minutes, the whole team would have died. The strange thing is that the oxygen masks didn’t come out – it’s good that the pilot realised that this was a deadly situation and so turned back. But we are still in shock.”

The players opted to train upon their return to Gambia’s capital despite the harrowing ordeal and Saintfiet admitted he doesn’t know when they will arrive in Ivory Coast after declining to use the same plane for a second flight.

“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,” he added.

“The team requested to train as we had been travelling overnight from Saudi Arabia to return home on Sunday, and Monday as well. We trained in a bid to release the stress.

“We have been asked to fly on the same plane to Ivory Coast but captain Omar Colley and I have refused. If we don’t get a different plane, we will return home and not go to AFCON. We want to fight and die for the country on the football pitch but not off it.”