Overview

• About 25 minutes after departing Luanda, the pilot returned to the airport following a loud crack at the cockpit windshield and executed an emergency landing.
• Players, staff and government delegates deplaned, waited for a replacement aircraft and reached Uyo early Sunday with no injuries reported, according to team officials.
• The delegation was flying on a ValueJet plane that the federation says has been used for previous away trips.
• The incident echoes a 2024 travel disruption when the team was held more than 15 hours at Libya’s Al‑Abraq airport before boycotting a match.
• After a 2–1 win over Lesotho in Polokwane kept their campaign alive, Nigeria host group leaders Benin on Tuesday three points back, needing victory to clinch at least the play-offs and possibly direct qualification depending on other results.