DAILY STAR
The Gambian National Team came within 30 minutes of death after the the cabin oxygen supply failed on their plane.
Gambia’s squad, which includes Wrexham star Jacob Mendy and Cardiff midfielder Ebou Adams, were on a flight from the Gambian capital of Banjul to the AFCON hosts Ivory Coast. However, just nine minutes after take-off, the aircraft was forced to turnaround to Banjul for an emergency landing as oxygen supplies ran low.
Several players reportedly passed out shortly after boarding, while former Manchester United man Saidy Janko claimed on Instagram that some of those on board were left suffering from “strong headaches and extreme dizziness.”
Gambia’s coach Tom Saintfiet revealed how he feared for his life in an interview with Nieuwsblad. He told them: “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.”
