The Super Eagles’ arrival in Uyo ahead of Tuesday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying clash against the Benin Republic has been delayed after the aircraft conveying the team suffered a cracked windscreen mid-air.
This was disclosed by the Nigeria Football Federation in a statement on Saturday.
According to the Federation, the incident caused the ValueJet Airline aircraft, which was flying the delegation from Polokwane, South Africa, to make an emergency return to Luanda.
The NFF added that the same aircraft had earlier transported part of the team’s delegation to Polokwane on Thursday night, arriving on Friday morning.
It stated that the aircraft developed the fault shortly after it took off during the return journey, after a scheduled refuelling stop in Luanda.
The statement read in part, “The same aircraft had flown some members of the delegation to Polokwane on Thursday night, arriving in the South African city on Friday morning.
“However, after a routine refueling stop in Luanda, Angola (where the plane also stopped to refuel on Thursday night, and where the same plane had stopped to refuel to and from Bloemfontein in South Africa for the Matchday 8 encounter between the Super Eagles and the Bafana Bafana last month), the aircraft suffered a cracked windscreen mid-air after take-off, and the pilot did well to guide the airplane safely back to the airport in Luanda.”
The NFF noted that efforts are currently underway to ensure the team’s prompt arrival in Uyo ahead of the upcoming match.
It added; “ValueJet Airline and the relevant Federal Government of Nigeria authorities, including the Hon. Minister of Aviation, the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Chief of Staff to Mr. President, are working assiduously to get the necessary overflying and landing permits for another aircraft to fly from Lagos, pick the delegation in Luanda and fly them to Uyo.”
The Super Eagles are scheduled to face the Squirrels of Benin Republic in a crucial World Cup qualifying fixture at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium on Tuesday.
