Nigeria’s national football team, the Super Eagles, experienced a significant mid-air incident on Saturday when their chartered ValueJet aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing in Luanda, Angola. The team was on a crucial journey from Polokwane, South Africa, to Uyo, Akwa Ibom, in preparation for their decisive 2026 World Cup qualifier against Benin Republic, scheduled for Tuesday.

The flight, which had made a routine refuelling stop in Luanda, encountered a technical fault approximately 25 minutes after departing. A loud crack appeared on the windscreen, prompting immediate action from the pilot. Witnesses reported that the pilot reacted swiftly and professionally, executing an emergency U-turn and successfully landing the aircraft back at the airport in Luanda.

Crucially, all individuals on board, including players, officials, and government delegates, disembarked unharmed. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) subsequently released a statement confirming the incident and commending the flight crew for their exemplary professionalism in handling the emergency. The NFF highlighted that the aircraft “suffered a cracked windscreen mid-air after take-off, and the pilot did well to guide the aeroplane safely back to the airport in Luanda.”

It was noted that the same ValueJet aircraft had been used earlier in the week to transport part of the Super Eagles delegation to South Africa. Following the incident, the NFF disclosed that arrangements were actively being made to secure a replacement aircraft from Lagos. This involved collaborative efforts between ValueJet Airline and various Nigerian authorities, including the Ministers of Aviation and Foreign Affairs, as well as the Chief of Staff to the President, to obtain the necessary permits for the new plane to transport the delegation to Uyo.

Despite the frightening experience, the Super Eagles were expected to resume their journey to Uyo later on Saturday. Their preparations for the final qualifier against Benin Republic are considered vital for Nigeria’s aspirations to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. In their most recent match, the Super Eagles had defeated Lesotho 2-1 in Polokwane, with goals from captain William Troost-Ekong and Sevilla forward Akor Adams.

For Nigeria to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, the team must secure a victory against Benin by at least two clear goals, and simultaneously hope that South Africa fails to overcome Rwanda on the same match day. This puts additional pressure on the team following the unexpected travel disruption.