CURRENT REPORT BLOG The Gambian national football team swiftly returned to Banjul shortly after taking off for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, as reported by Sports Brief. The departure of the team faced a delay due to an alleged loss of oxygen on the flight transporting the entire Gambian squad to Abidjan. The Scorpions, set to compete in Group C against Senegal, Cameroon, and Guinea, encountered technical challenges after just nine minutes in the air, causing severe headaches and breathing problems for some players and technical staff.
A statement from the Gambia Football Federation revealed that the chartered flight, operated by Air Côte d’Ivoire, experienced a loss of cabin pressure and oxygen, prompting an immediate return to Banjul. The technical team is currently assessing the situation to determine the cause of the issues. Despite the incident, the football federation assured the public of the safety of the players and staff, with plans for a new departure time already in place. The team is en route to the Ocean Bay Hotel, awaiting further instructions after preliminary investigations.
