Scare as Plane Carrying Nigeria Squad Makes Emergency Landing After Windscreen Cracked Mid-Flight

Nigeria’s preparations for their crucial 2026 World Cup qualifier against Benin have suffered a setback following a scary incident that forced their plane to make an emergency landing.

The Super Eagles squad was travelling from Polokwane in South Africa, where they played their last match, a 2-1 win over Lesotho on Friday, to Uyo, where they will face Benin on Tuesday.

However, their plane encountered problems after suffering a cracked windscreen that forced the pilot to make an emergency landing in Luanda, Angola.

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Nigeria had chartered a ValueJet Airline aircraft, to take the squad to South Africa and return them home in a bid to save time, but it developed mechanical issues with the Nigerian Football Federation stating that the aircraft stopped in Angola's capital for routine refuelling.

NFF then confirmed the aircraft's windscreen suffered a 'heavy crack' in mid-air, forcing the pilots into an emergency landing 25 minutes into the flight with the plane landed safely at the airport in Luanda.

The federation confirmed the incident had delayed the arrival of the squad to Uyo ahead of a must-win match against Benin on Tuesday with the government seeking permission to have another plane travel to Luanda to get the players.

Nigeria must beat Benin to keep their World Cup dream alive as they are third in Group C with 14 points, one behind second-placed South Africa, and three adrift of the Squirrels.

A win would take them to 17 points, and hand them a place in the playoff, assuming South Africa beat Rwanda on the same day, but they could still sneak through if they secure a big winning margin and Bafana Bafana drop points.