Five Premier League players – including Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey – were among those to endure flight chaos after jetting out of Nigeria’s latest 2026 World Cup qualifier. There was midair mayhem during that journey as a cracked windscreen forced the plane that the Super Eagles were travelling on to make an emergency landing. Said trip was eventually completed some 12 hours later than initially planned
The Nigeria squad was heading home after playing out a qualification clash in Polokwane, South Africa. They emerged triumphant in that contest, with a 2-1 victory being picked up against Lesotho. A chartered ValueJet Airline – the same carrier that had taken the team to South America – was used for the return journey.
Once it emerged that damage had been suffered to the plane’s windscreen, those on board were left with no choice but to revise their plans. The jet in question had stopped in the Angolan capital of Luanda for refuelling. After being in the air for a further 25 minutes, it emerged that an unscheduled pitstop would need to be taken. The plane returned to Luanda and landed safely.
The Nigeria Football Federation confirmed that a delay had been suffered en route to Uyo, where the Super Eagles are due to face Benin on Tuesday. Government officials, including the president’s chief of staff, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Aviation were able to secure permission for another airline to fly out from Lagos and collect the team.
A statement from the NFF read: “The ValueJet Airline and the relevant Federal Government of Nigeria authorities are working assiduously to get the necessary overflying and landing permits for another aircraft to fly from Lagos, pick the delegation in Luanda, and fly them to Uyo.”
The replacement plane eventually completed the journey on Sunday morning, with almost 12 hours of disruption being brought to a close. Team media officer Promise Efoghe said in a statement issued to the media: “Finally, Super Eagles arrive in Uyo, Akwa Ibom. The team touched down at 8.05 am Sunday morning.”
Nigeria’s squad includes five players from the Premier League. They are Iwobi, Bassey and Samuel Chukwueze of Fulham, Brentford’s Frank Onyeka and Tolu Arokodare of Wolves. Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen and Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman are among the other star names in the Super Eagles’ ranks. They currently sit third in their World Cup qualification group, three points behind table-topping Benin and one adrift of South Africa in an ongoing bid to secure a play-off spot
By Mowaju