Super Eagles Escape Death as Airplane Conveying Team Makes Emergency Landing 

By: Israel Adeleke

OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News reports as gathered that the Nigeria’s Super Eagles has just escaped death after the ValueJet aircraft conveying the team to Uyo for the final World Cup qualifying group game against Benin Republic made an emergency landing due to a cracked windscreen.

OTN News further reports as gathered that a top official of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), who made this known to News men, disclosed that the arrival of the Super Eagles and the team officials in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, was delayed due to a technical issue involving their chartered aircraft.

The top official who is among the team’s contingent, told Sahara Reporters that the incident was “a close call that could have been worse.”

According to the source, the aircraft had departed South Africa en route to Uyo, Akwa Ibom, where the national team is expected to play a crucial World Cup qualifying match, before the pilot detected the fault midair and diverted for an emergency landing.

OTN News observes that the race for qualification from Group C of the FIFA World Cup African qualifiers is set to go down to the wire after another dramatic round of matches on Friday left Benin Republic, South Africa, and Nigeria all still in contention.

However, with just one matchday remaining, Benin Republic currently lead the table with 17 points, followed closely by South Africa on 15 points and Nigeria on 14 points.

The decisive final fixtures on Tuesday will determine who clinches the group’s sole automatic ticket to the 2026 World Cup.