Soccer-Gambia team in emergency landing scare on way to Cup of Nations

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Africa Cup of Nations - Quarter Final - Gambia v Cameroon - Stade de Japoma, Douala, Cameroon - January 29, 2022 Gambia players huddle before the start of the second half REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani/File Photo

ABIDJAN (Reuters) - Gambia coach Tom Saintfiet said he and his players feared for their lives after the plane taking them to the Africa Cup of Nations finals made an emergency landing, delaying their arrival at the tournament in the Ivory Coast.

Gambia’s squad set off from Banjul on Wednesday on a short trip to Yamoussoukro, where they will play their opening two group games, but minutes after take-off they turned around because of a lack of oxygen inside the plane, he said.