The Nigerian national team known as the Super Eagles, the coaching crew, officials and other occupants of the aircraft enroute Uyo on Saturday evening, escaped what would have probably resulted to a fatal crash.
After a 1:2 defeat against the Lesotho national team yesterday, the Super Eagles were on their way to the Godswill Akpabio International stadium for their last World Cup qualifiers match against Benin.
But, according to a statement credited to the Nigerian Football Federation, NFF, their aircraft had to make an emergency landing in Luanda, Angola.
“The aircraft taking Nigeria’s Super Eagles from Polokwane, South Africa to Uyo, Akwa Ibom state for their final World Cup qualifier has made an emergency landing in Luanda Angola.
The Value Jet aircraft had made an initial stop in Luanda to refuel before embarking on the trip to Uyo”, a media report which quoted the NFF said.
The report added “But twenty five minutes into the flight, the pilot made a U-turn into Luanda after a heavy crack on the air craft’s wind shield distorted what had started as a smooth flight.
The players, officials and government delegates onboard have since disembarked the aircraft and await the air line operator’s swift response to the situation”.
