This is a new traumatic episode for Nigeria. A year after seeing their plane hijacked by the Libyan authorities on the pretext of non-compliance with security and logistics protocols – subsequently a night of detention experienced as a kidnapping by the Super Eagles – the Nigerian football team almost suffered an air crash.
As they returned to the country after their victory against Lesotho (2-1) on Saturday in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup – a match played in Polokwane, South Africa – the Nigerians suffered a not insignificant damage half an hour after taking off from Luanda, Angola, where they had just made a stopover.
Nigeria in unfavorable ballot
The plane's windshield then cracked mid-flight, forcing the crew to turn around for an emergency landing in Angola. The Nigerian Football Federation confirmed the incident in a statement on Sunday, specifying that the delegation was able to land in Uyo, at home, in the morning. With more fear than harm.
Nigeria does not have its destiny in its hands in these 2026 World Cup qualifiers. To hope to rally the United States, Mexico and Canada next summer, the Super Eagles must at all costs win over Benin on Tuesday, while banking on a misstep by South Africa in front of Rwanda.
