AFCON 2023: Gambia Forced to Return Home After Flight Scare En Route to Ivory Coast

• The Gambia are yet to arrive in Ivory Coast for the 2023 AFCON
• The Scorpions experienced a flight scare en route to Ivory Coast
• Gambia will face Senegal in their opening game at AFCON 2023

The Gambian national football team made a quick U-turn to Banjul shortly after their flight departed for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

The team's departure had to be delayed after a reportedly drop in oxygen on the flight carrying the Gambian squad to Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

After just nine minutes in the air, a harrowing technical incident led to players and technical team members with very little air on the plane.

In a statement on Facebook, the Gambia Football Federation confirmed the chartered flight was forced to return to Banjul not long after taking off:

"The flight was nine minutes long when the crew... immediately requested a return to Banjul. Upon landing, preliminary investigations indicated that there had been a loss of cabin pressure and oxygen," the statement continued, as reported by 13 Football.

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A report by Newsweek claimed the lack of oxygen in the plane had caused several players to pass out, with some reporting breathing difficulties and severe headaches.

Fortunately, the GFF confirmed that the players and technical team were safe and plans for a new departure time to the AFCON host nation were currently being arranged.

"It is important to note that every member of the delegation is safe and sound. The public will be kept informed of any developments in this matter. We apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused as we seek to find a quick solution to get the team to Ivory Coast as quickly as possible."

"However, the technical team of the flight operating company, Air Côte d'Ivoire, is further assessing the situation to establish the cause of the lack of oxygen and pressure in the cabin."

The Gambia are in Group C alongside champions Senegal, Cameroon and Guinea, per Sky Sports.

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Gambia in Group C: AFCON predictions

Sports Brief also previously provided an analysis and predictions for AFCON's Group C, with the tournament set to kick off in just a few days.

Reigning champions, Senegal will face a difficult group stage that includes clashes against a strong Cameroon side, Guinea, and the Gambia.