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As oxygen on their flight fails and forces them to land after nine minutes THE GAMBIA squad heading to the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast narrowly averted disaster after their plane's oxygen supply failed, forcing them to make an emergency landing after nine minutes. A statement from Gambian Football Federation confirmed the incident saying, 'The Chartered Flight carrying the Scorpions to the African cup of Nations has returned to Banjul due to technical problems. The flight was nine minutes airborne when the crew realised and immediately requested to return to Banjul.’ Gambia's Belgian coach Tom Saintfiet added that, 'We could all have been dead. We all fell asleep quickly. Me, too. I had short dreams about how my life was done. Really and truly. 'After nine minutes the pilot decided to return because there was no oxygen supply. Some players did not wake up [until] immediately after landing. 'We almost got carbon monoxide poisoning. Another half hour of flying and we would all have been dead.' In his interview with Nieuwsblad, coach Saintfiet said the squad must travel to Ivory Coast on Thursday or risk being kicked out the tournament. Their first game is against Senegal on Monday. 'We are now in Gambia and no longer want to fly with such an aircraft. That was about the smallest they could find, perhaps, with propellers, for 50 people,' he said. Janko, 28, wrote on Instagram: 'Unacceptable. After travelling 32 hours in total from Saudi Arabia (Training Camp) to The Gambia with long layovers in Istanbul and Casablanca, we were supposed to fly from Gambia to Ivory Coast for the AFCON today. 'As soon as we entered the small plane that was hired to fly us, we noticed the immense heat that left us dripping in sweat. 'It was assured to us by the crew that the air conditioning would start once we are in the sky. 'The inhumane heat mixed with the occurring lack of oxygen left many people with strong headaches and extreme dizziness. 'Furthermore, people started falling deeply asleep minutes after entering the aircraft/takeoff. 'Whilst in the air, the situation got worse, leaving the pilot with no other option, than initiating an emergency landing back in Banjul airport nine minutes after takeoff. Which happened successfully. 'If it wasn't for this, the consequences could have been a lot worse!!! Knowing what could have happened, if we would have been exposed to the situation for any longer - in an airplane, running out of oxygen… 'We are grateful that everyone is feeling well but this is a situation that has to be addressed going into the AFCON, as being only one of our obstacles on international duty. 'This is unacceptable and [as] such has to cease with immediate effect.' Meanwhile, the squad were seen back at Banjul Airport as they awaited another flight but risk being kicked out of tournament if they don’t travel on time.
By Desmond Nleya
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