The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed that the arrival of the Super Eagles in Uyo for Tuesday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against the Benin Republic was delayed due to a technical issue with the team’s aircraft.
According to a statement released on Saturday, the ValueJet aircraft conveying the players and officials developed a cracked windscreen mid-air, forcing the pilots to make an unscheduled return to Luanda, Angola, where the plane had earlier stopped to refuel.
The NFF stated that the situation was promptly managed, and arrangements were made to ensure the team’s safe continuation of the journey to Uyo.
“The aircraft conveying the Super Eagles suffered a minor technical fault, leading to a short delay. The players and officials are safe and will arrive in Uyo shortly,” the statement read.
The Super Eagles are scheduled to face the Benin Republic on Tuesday in a crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier, as Nigeria seeks to bounce back from its disappointing draw against Lesotho in Uyo earlier in the campaign.
