A WREXHAM AFC star was among the Gambia squad members whose plane was forced to make an emergency landing this week.

Wing-back Jacob Mendy has been selected to represent his country at the African Cup of Nations which starts this weekend.

On Thursday (January 11), the plane carrying Mendy and the rest of the Gambia squad to that tournament was forced to make an emergency landing after the oxygen supply reportedly failed.

The incident took place as the players and staff were travelling from Banjul to Abidjan (Ivory Coast) on a two-and-a-half-hour flight.

Reports state that, just nine minutes into the flight, several players experienced loss of consciousness, prompting the pilot to make an emergency landing back in Banjul.

Wrexham AFC took to social media later that to provide an update on Mendy.

They said: "The Gambian Football Federation have confirmed the squad, including Jacob Mendy, are in good health, trained today and are now flying out to Yamoussoukro. Pob lwc, Jacob!"

A statement from the Gambian Football Federation after the incident added: "The Gambia Football Federation (GFF) regrets to inform the general public that the Chartered Flight carrying the Scorpions to the African Cup of Nations has returned to Banjul due to technical problems. 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.

"In this regard, the team, including the players and staff are now on their way to base at the Ocean Bay Hotel as they await further instructions. It is important to note that every member of the delegation is safe and in sound health.

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"The public will be kept informed with regard to any development on the matter. We apologise for any inconvenience that this may have caused as we seek to find a quick solution for the team to travel to Ivory Coast as soon as possible."

Gambia are scheduled to kick-off their AFCON 2024 campaign v Senegal on Monday (January 15). They will then play Cameroon and Guinea in what is a tough Group C.

27-year-old Mendy has become a star player for Wrexham since making the move to the STok Cae Ras from Boreham Wood in 2022.

He was a pivotal part of the Reds side which won the National League title in 2022/23 and helped them return to the English Football League following a 15-year absence.