Gambia's national soccer team, known as the Scorpions, had a harrowing experience on Wednesday evening when they were forced to make an emergency landing while en route to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The incident occurred just nine minutes after takeoff from Banjul Airport.

The team was on a chartered flight operated by Air Côte d'Ivoire when they encountered a serious problem with the oxygen supply in the cabin. Several players reportedly passed out and fell asleep due to the sudden lack of oxygen. The intense heat inside the aircraft compounded the discomfort, causing headaches and extreme dizziness for many passengers.

Saidy Janko, a former Manchester United player and a member of the Gambian team, took to Instagram to describe the terrifying ordeal. He mentioned the "inhumane heat" and the lack of oxygen that affected everyone on board. Janko also revealed that people started falling deeply asleep within minutes of takeoff.

As the situation worsened in the air, the pilot made the decision to immediately return to Banjul Airport for an emergency landing. According to Janko, the consequences could have been much worse if they had not returned promptly.

The Gambia Football Federation issued a statement on Facebook, confirming the incident and stating that the chartered flight had to return due to technical problems. The federation also mentioned that Air Côte d'Ivoire, the flight operator, is currently investigating the cause of the oxygen supply failure.

Following the incident, the team expressed their reluctance to fly again on that type of aircraft. They are now back in Gambia and will likely explore alternate travel arrangements to participate in the AFCON.

The Africa Cup of Nations is the premier international men's soccer tournament in Africa. First held in 1957 with only three participating nations, the competition has since grown to include 24 teams and is now held every two years.

The safety of air travel is vital, and incidents like these serve as a reminder of the importance of proper maintenance and training to ensure passenger well-being. The investigation into the oxygen supply failure will hopefully shed light on what transpired, and measures will be taken to prevent such incidents in the future.