2024 AFCON: Gambia National Team Soccer Players Narrates Near Death Encounter As Plane Looses Oxygen Mid Air

Reactions have continued to pour in as aeroplane carrying the Gambia national team players to Abidjan, Ivory Coast, for the 2023 AFCON was forced to make a U-turn to Gambia’s capital, Banjul, on Wednesday due to a low gas issue.

Speaking to newsmen on their ordeal the Gambia’s head coach, Tom Saintfiet, described his team’s experience in the aborted flight as a near-death encounter.

A statement issued by Air Cote d’Ivoire, says a pressurization issue led the airplane crew to make the U-turn, as stated in the official airline of AFCON 2023.

The statement added that although a ground technician could have fixed the problem, the previous delays negatively impacted the crew’s working hours, leading to the flight’s cancellation.

In an interview with the BBC, Saintfiet confirmed that the cancelled flight was due to low gas on the plane as he appreciated the aircrew for quickly returning to their take-off point.

The Belgian tactician said: “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.

“After a few minutes, it was very hot on the plane.