The Super Eagles of Nigeria have arrived safely in Uyo ahead of their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against the Benin Republic, scheduled for Tuesday.
Their arrival was confirmed on Sunday via the official X (formerly Twitter) handle of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). The team touched down at Victor Attah International Airport in Uyo at 8:05 a.m. local time.
“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,” the NFF posted.
The safe landing came after a tense 24-hour travel delay caused by a mid-air emergency involving their chartered ValueJet aircraft.
According to the NFF, the aircraft had just completed a refuelling stop in Luanda, Angola, during the team’s return journey from their victory over Lesotho. Shortly after take-off, the plane developed a cracked windscreen, forcing the pilot to make an emergency return to Luanda.
“After a routine refuelling stop in Luanda, Angola (the same location where the aircraft had refuelled on Thursday night and during previous trips to Bloemfontein, South Africa for the match against Bafana Bafana), the plane suffered a cracked windscreen mid-air after take-off,” the NFF explained. “The pilot did well to guide the aircraft safely back to the airport in Luanda.”
The same plane had earlier transported part of the delegation to Polokwane on Thursday night, arriving on Friday morning.
In response to the emergency, the NFF arranged for a replacement aircraft from Lagos to fly to Luanda and transport the team to Uyo.
