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Nigeria’s senior men’s national football team, the Super Eagles, had a narrow escape on Saturday after the aircraft conveying them from South Africa made an emergency landing in Luanda, Angola, due to a technical fault.
The team was returning from Polokwane, South Africa, where they had played against Lesotho in their World Cup qualifying match, and were en route to Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, for their next fixture against Benin Republic scheduled for Tuesday.
According to information from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the ValueJet aircraft transporting the team developed a crack in its windscreen shortly after taking off from a refuelling stop in Luanda.
The pilot was said to have acted promptly and professionally by turning the plane back to the Angolan capital’s airport, where a safe emergency landing was successfully carried out.
“The pilot’s swift response averted what could have been a serious situation,” a senior NFF official confirmed, adding that all players and crew were safe and calm throughout the incident.
The same aircraft had earlier flown part of the Super Eagles’ delegation to South Africa on Thursday and had been used for several of the team’s previous international trips.
The NFF further disclosed that arrangements were being made for a replacement aircraft to airlift the players and officials from Luanda to Uyo ahead of Tuesday’s decisive World Cup qualifier.
It added that the Ministries of Aviation and Foreign Affairs, alongside the Chief of Staff to the President, were collaborating with the airline to expedite necessary overflying and landing permits for the replacement flight.
While reassuring Nigerians that the team members were safe, the federation expressed appreciation to fans for their understanding and patience as logistics were being finalised.
“The safety of our players and officials is our top priority,” the NFF states.
They urge supporters to remain calm and focused on Tuesday’s crucial encounter against Benin Republic.
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