By SCM Staff Writer I Saturday, October 11, 2025
ANGOLA – The Nigeria Super Eagles were plunged into a terrifying mid-air drama yesterday after their chartered jet suffered a massive cracked windscreen shortly after take-off, forcing a dramatic emergency landing.
The national football heroes were travelling from Polokwane, South Africa, to Uyo for their crucial World Cup qualifier against the Benin Republic when the terrifying incident unfolded.
The ValueJet flight, carrying the squad and officials, had stopped to refuel in Luanda, Angola—a routine stopover the plane had made twice before in recent weeks.
But disaster struck moments after the aircraft left the runway for the final leg of the journey home.
Sources say a large crack appeared in the cockpit windscreen, instantly throwing the high-flying journey into chaos and panic.
The pilot was forced to perform a heroic emergency turn-back, guiding the damaged aeroplane safely back to the Angolan capital’s airport, averting what could have been a catastrophic tragedy.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) confirmed the scary incident, noting the pilot “did well” to land the plane back in Luanda.
The horrifying near-miss has now left the stars—who have a vital World Cup slot on the line—stranded over 2,000 miles from their destination, throwing preparations for Tuesday’s clash into utter chaos.
High-level Nigerian government figures, including the Minister of Aviation and the Chief of Staff to the President, are now racing against the clock.
They are battling to secure a replacement aircraft and all the necessary overflying and landing permits to fly a new plane from Lagos to Luanda to pick up the marooned delegation and get them back to Nigeria.
The delay means the Super Eagles’ arrival in Uyo has been seriously postponed, leaving their training schedule for the must-win World Cup qualifier against Benin hanging in the balance.
The NFF is working “assiduously” to get the champions home—but first, they need to get them out of Angola.
