The Super Eagles of Nigeria have arrived in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, after a delay caused by a midair emergency during their flight from Polokwane, South Africa.
The team was scheduled to land on Saturday, but arrived safely at about 8:05 a.m. on Sunday after a technical scare forced their chartered aircraft to return to Luanda, Angola.
The Value Jet aircraft, it said made an initial stop in Luanda to refuel before continuing to Uyo.
Twenty-five minutes after takeoff, the pilot was compelled to make a swift U-turn after a loud crack appeared on the aircraft’s windshield.
The players, coaching staff, and government officials aboard the flight were said to have remained calm as the pilot executed a safe return to Luanda, where they disembarked to await further arrangements from the airline.
Despite the scare, the team eventually continued their trip to Uyo without further incident.
The Eagles are set to face Benin Republic in a must-win 2026 World Cup qualifier on Tuesday. The fixture is crucial, with Nigeria’s qualification hopes hanging in the balance after their hard-fought 2-1 win over Lesotho in Polokwane on Friday.
Captain William Troost-Ekong and debutant Akor Adams were the heroes on the night, scoring second-half goals that secured the victory.
A late slip by goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali allowed Lesotho a consolidation goal, keeping fans on edge until the final whistle.
The victory lifted Nigeria to third place in Group C with 14 points, trailing South Africa by one point and leaders Benin Republic by three. To book an automatic ticket to the World Cup, Nigeria must not only beat Benin convincingly but also hope that South Africa fail to defeat Rwanda in Mbombela.
In other matches, South Africa were held to a goalless draw by Zimbabwe in Durban, while Benin edged Rwanda 1-0, leaving the group finely poised ahead of Tuesday’s decisive encounters.
