The Gambia national football team had a terrifying and sickening experience on their plane trip to the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Ivory Coast.
Team coach Tom Saintfiet said the plane had to return to Gambia because the lack of sufficient oxygen mid-flight resulted in some players passing out and others complaining that they couldn’t breathe properly and felt very sick.
The Gambian Football Association said the 50-seater Air Cote d’Ivoire plane lost air pressure and oxygen and is still trying to find out why. The airline hadn’t said anything about the incident by the time this article was posted.
Gambia’s defender, Saidy Janko, said the plane was hot and stuffy and that passengers felt very ill.
The team is supposed to play their first game against Senegal on Monday but Saintfiet said the players were still feeling sick, with some experiencing headaches and vomiting. They haven’t practised for three days or had proper meals.
The team is still in Gambia and has refused to travel on the same plane again, Reuters reported.
Compiled by staff writer
Pictured above: Gambia national football team.
Image source: X
