The Gambia squad travelling to Ivory Coast for the forthcoming 2023 Africa Cup of Nations “might have died” throughout a flight that was aborted, coach Tom Saintfiet has claimed.
The Air Cote d’Ivoire flight rotated simply 9 minutes after leaving the Gambian capital Banjul on Wednesday due to an absence of oxygen within the airplane, which prompted most of the delegation to go to sleep.
Saintfiet praised the short considering of the pilot for conserving his workforce secure.
“The native crew stated there was an issue with the air-con earlier than we took off however that it might be all positive once we took off,” Saintfiet instructed BBC Sport Africa.
“After a couple of minutes, it was highly regarded within the airplane.
“All of us fell asleep as a result of there was an absence of oxygen – a few of the gamers could not be woken up. The pilot observed and we needed to return.
“Folks obtained complications and if the flight had gone on for an additional half-hour, the entire workforce would have died. The unusual factor is that the oxygen masks did not come out – it is good that the pilot realised that this was a lethal scenario and so turned again.
“However we’re nonetheless in shock.”
Saintfiet believes the passengers might have been going through carbon monoxide poisoning, however Gambian FA (GFA) president Lamin Kaba Bajo refuted that suggestion.
“I by no means felt it and it isn’t clinically, scientifically or medically confirmed,” Kaba Bajo instructed the BBC.
“These are particular person observations and perceptions however there was not something like that. I used to be nearly sitting subsequent to the coach and I did not see anybody collapse.
“I do know that individuals, when a airplane takes off, they sleep.
“Some individuals had been dozing, sleeping, however we landed safely. There was not a single incident, all of us got here down and boarded the bus to return to the terminal.”
Air Cote d’Ivoire has been contacted for remark.
The incident got here 4 months after the Gambian workforce, who will face defending champions Senegal, Cameroon and Guinea in Group C, had been caught up in September’s devastating earthquake in the Moroccan city of Marrakesh, when over 2,000 individuals died.
Regardless of the expertise on board the aborted flight, The Gambia selected to coach upon their return to Banjul on Wednesday evening, despite the fact that a few of the squad had been unable to take action.
“Some gamers couldn’t prepare due to what occurred. They nonetheless have complications and that’s worrying, whereas a few of the gamers are nonetheless dizzy,” added Saintfiet.
“The workforce requested to coach as we had been travelling in a single day from Saudi Arabia to return dwelling on Sunday, and Monday as properly.
“We educated in a bid to launch the stress.”
