According to the NFF, “the ValueJet Airline plane conveying the team from Polokwane, South Africa, to Uyo for Tuesday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Benin Republic developed a cracked windscreen mid-air after taking off from a refuelling stop in Luanda, Angola.
“ The pilot avoided any risk by returning the plane to the Luanda airport in a timely and competent manner. The same plane had earlier taken some members of the Super Eagles delegation to Polokwane on Thursday night, arriving in South Africa on Friday morning. During the team’s Matchday 8 match against South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in Bloemfontein last month, it was also utilized for comparable routes.
The NFF gave supporters and interested parties the reassurance that ValueJet and the appropriate federal officials, such as the Chief of Staff to the President and the Ministers of Aviation and Foreign Affairs, are working quickly to get landing and overflying licenses for a replacement aircraft. The group will be picked up by the new aircraft, which will fly from Lagos to Luanda and safely transport them to Uyo.
In order to guarantee the team’s safe arrival prior to Tuesday’s important match, the federation thanked supporters for their patience and understanding.
