The team was scheduled to leave Gambia's capital, Banjul, to the capital of Côte d'Ivoire, Yamoussoukro, at 4 pm on Thursday after the latest incident, the Gambia Football Federation said.
"Despite the trials and tribulations, they’re mentally and physically prepared for this battle. Next stop, Banjul International Airport as we embark on our delayed journey to Yamoussoukro," the federation said.
The athletes were supposed to arrive in Yamoussoukro yesterday, but their flight lasted just nine minutes when the crew realized that there was not enough oxygen on the aircraft and "immediately requested to return to Banjul", said a statement from the federation.
One of the players, the full-back Saidy Janko, shared a detailed description of the incident on his social media page.
"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 condition would start once we are in the sky," he wrote on Instagram*. "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 take-off."
Initial assessments indicated that there was a loss of pressure and oxygen in the cabin, which caused several footballers to lose consciousness.
The airline operating the flight, Air Côte d'Ivoire, has begun an investigation to determine the causes of the incident.
The Africa Cup of Nations is the primary international tournament for men's association football in Africa. This year's competition will be held in Côte d'Ivoire from January 13 to February 11. The Gambian team will play its first match in Group C on Monday in Yamoussoukro against reigning champions Senegal.
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