Super Eagles land safely in Uyo after mid-air scare
The Super Eagles of Nigeria have arrived in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, after a harrowing mid-air emergency that forced their chartered aircraft to make an emergency landing in Luanda, Angola.
Their safe arrival was announced in a post on Sunday via the X handle of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
They were said to have touched down safely at the Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo, at 8:05 a.m. local time.
The post read, “The @NGSuperEagles have finally arrived Uyo after a delay in Luanda, Angola due to issues with the aircraft conveying them back home after the win over Lesotho. Now to get one over Benin! Yes. We can.”
This comes after a tense 24-hour travel delay caused by a mid-air emergency involving their chartered ValueJet aircraft.
The Super Eagles’ arrival in Uyo comes ahead of their crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against the Benin Republic on Tuesday.
The team is determined to secure a win and make progress in the qualifiers.
According to the NFF, the aircraft developed a fault shortly after takeoff from Luanda, specifically a cracked windscreen. Thankfully, the pilot managed to guide the plane safely back to the airport.
The team was initially scheduled to arrive in Uyo on Sunday but was delayed due to the incident. They finally touched down at the Victor Attah International Airport in Uyo at 8:05 a.m. local time.
The NFF announced plans to fly another aircraft from Lagos to Luanda to pick up the delegation.
The federation has also praised the pilot’s professionalism in ensuring the safety of the team.
