Tension gripped Nigeria’s Super Eagles team on Saturday after a ValueJet aircraft conveying them from South Africa made an emergency landing in Angola due to a cracked window.
A top Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) official, who was part of the contingent, confirmed the frightening incident to SaharaReporters, describing it as “a close call that could have ended tragically.”
According to the source, the team had departed South Africa and was en route to Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, where they are scheduled to play a crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match.
However, the pilot detected the fault midair and immediately diverted the aircraft for an emergency landing in Angola.
The quick decision prevented what could have been a serious aviation disaster.
The ValueJet crew acted swiftly to ensure the safety of everyone on board, including players, coaches, and team officials.
The emergency came just as the Super Eagles are battling to keep their qualification hopes alive.
Nigeria currently sits third in Group C, trailing Benin Republic and South Africa.
The team’s recent 2–1 victory over Lesotho kept them within reach of qualification, with only one matchday left to determine who secures the group’s sole ticket to the 2026 World Cup.
Benin Republic leads with 17 points, followed by South Africa with 15, while Nigeria sits closely behind on 14 points.
The final matches on Tuesday will decide the fate of the group.
South Africa’s goalless draw against Zimbabwe in Durban dashed their early qualification hopes, while Nigeria’s win in Polokwane, with goals from William Troost-Ekong and Akor Adams, reignited their chances.
Benin Republic’s narrow 1–0 win over Rwanda, thanks to Tosin Aiyegun’s late strike, keeps the competition fierce until the end.
Although all players and officials are safe after the Angola landing, the incident has raised concerns about the reliability of chartered flight arrangements for national teams.
As the Super Eagles regroup for their decisive fixture, the Nigeria Football Federation is expected to review the ValueJet emergency landing episode to prevent future risks.
