The Gambia National Team are set to fly out of the country finally after the Government secured an alternative flight for the team.

The Scorpions endured a horrible experience when the chartered Ivorian Plane suffered malfunction causing loss of oxygen. Some players and members of the delegation fainted due to lack of oxygen.

The flight was nine minutes airborne when the crew realised and immediately requested to return to Banjul.

Upon landing, preliminary investigations indicated that there was loss of cabin pressure and oxygen. However, the technical team of the operating company of the flight, Air Cote d’Ivoire is further assessing the situation to establish what caused the lack of oxygen and cabin pressure.

The GFA have since released an update on the matter.

“The Gambia Football Federation is pleased to announce that the Scorpions will leave the Banjul International Airport at 4pm today following the intervention of His Excellency President Adama Barrow,” read a GFA statement posted their Facebook page.

“Because the team wanted to fly directly to Yamoussoukro, which is a smaller airport and for security reasons there is special approval required for bigger flights to land there. Thus, President Barrow was in touch with his Ivorian counterpart Alassane Ouattara on the matter. In this regard, Air Côte d’Ivoire has already dispatched an Airbus 319 which will arrive in Banjul at midday to ferry the team. The permits have also been granted for the Airbus to land in Yamoussoukro instead of Abidjan.

“The GFF takes this opportunity to thank His Excellency for his show of statesmanship once again in intervening and finding a quick solution.”

Gambia are drawn in Group C alongside Cameroon, Senegal and Guinea. Their opening game is against the defending champions Senegal on Monday 15 January, 2024.

Kelvin Trudeau Musako

Football Journalist | TotalEnergies AFCON 2021 Photographer | Media Officer - Kabwe Warriors FC | Graphic Designer | Videographer