The Nigerian national football team’s journey to Uyo for their World Cup qualifying match against Benin Republic has been postponed following an in-flight technical malfunction.
The Nigeria Football Federation disclosed that the squad and accompanying officials experienced an unexpected delay en route to Akwa Ibom State after their chartered ValueJet aircraft encountered mechanical difficulties.
The plane, which was transporting the delegation from Polokwane, South Africa, to Uyo for Tuesday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier, sustained a fractured windscreen while airborne. The damage occurred shortly after the aircraft departed from Luanda, Angola, where it had stopped to refuel.
The pilot responded promptly to the situation and executed a safe return to Luanda’s airport, successfully avoiding any potential hazards. The same aircraft had earlier carried portions of the Super Eagles contingent to Polokwane on Thursday evening, touching down in South Africa the following morning. It had also been utilized for comparable flights during the team’s previous qualifying match against South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in Bloemfontein last month.
The football federation indicated that ValueJet, along with federal government officials including the Ministers of Aviation and Foreign Affairs and the Presidential Chief of Staff, are currently expediting procedures to obtain necessary overflying and landing clearances for a substitute aircraft. The replacement plane is scheduled to depart from Lagos to Luanda, where it will collect the stranded delegation and transport them to Uyo.
The federation acknowledged the patience of fans and other interested parties while arrangements are being finalized to guarantee the team’s secure arrival before Tuesday’s important qualifying fixture.
