Super Eagles’ Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Angola After Mid-Air Scare
2 min read
By Sportsgister
There was palpable tension on Saturday when an aircraft conveying Nigeria’s Super Eagles from South Africa to Uyo was forced to make an emergency landing in Angola after the crew discovered a crack in one of the plane’s windows mid-flight.
The team had departed South Africa after their 2–1 victory over Lesotho in Polokwane and were en route to Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, where they are scheduled to face Benin Republic in their final 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match on Tuesday.
A senior official of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), who was among the passengers, confirmed the incident, describing it as “a close call that could have been worse.” According to the official, the pilot noticed the fault during the flight and immediately diverted the aircraft to Angola for an emergency landing to ensure the safety of all on board.
“The pilot acted swiftly after spotting the issue. Everyone remained calm, but you could tell there was tension. We thank God for a safe landing,” the NFF official added.
The team and other passengers were said to have disembarked safely while engineers inspected the aircraft to assess the extent of the damage before any further travel could continue.
This latest scare comes at a critical moment for the Super Eagles, who are locked in a tense battle for qualification in Group C of the 2026 FIFA World Cup African qualifiers.
After Friday’s fixtures, Benin Republic lead the group with 17 points, followed by South Africa with 15, while Nigeria sit in third place with 14 points — setting up a dramatic final round of matches.
In Durban, South Africa’s Bafana Bafana were held to a goalless draw by Zimbabwe, missing the chance to confirm early qualification. Coach Hugo Broos’ men must now defeat Rwanda in their last game to keep their World Cup hopes alive.
Meanwhile, in Polokwane, Nigeria’s Super Eagles secured a hard-fought 2–1 win over Lesotho to remain in contention. Captain William Troost-Ekong opened the scoring from the penalty spot before Akor Adams doubled the lead. Lesotho pulled one back late on, but Nigeria held on for a vital victory.
All eyes now turn to Tuesday’s decisive showdown, where the Super Eagles must beat Benin Republic to keep their World Cup dreams alive — and the team will hope their next journey takes off and lands without further drama.
Sedara Philip is a Sports writer, an administrator,Journalist,and editor
