The Cheetahs of Benin, Nigeria’s opposition in their final game of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers, have arrived in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, as the Super Eagles’ arrival has been delayed due to a cracked aircraft windscreen, www.aclsports.com reports.
The Benin side, led by former Super Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr, touched down at the Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo, on board a direct flight from Kigali, Rwanda, around 4pm ahead of next Tuesday’s last group match against Nigeria’s Super Eagles.
Meanwhile, the arrival of the Super Eagles from South Africa has been delayed due to a cracked windscreen of the chartered ValueJet Airline aircraft that was conveying them to Uyo.
“The same aircraft had flown some members of the delegation to Polokwane on Thursday night, arriving in the South African city on Friday morning,” reads a statement from the NFF.
“However, after a routine refueling stop in Luanda, Angola (where the plane also stopped to refuel on Thursday night, and where the same plane had stopped to refuel to and from Bloemfontein in South Africa for the Matchday 8 encounter between the Super Eagles and the Bafana Bafana last month), the aircraft suffered a cracked windscreen mid-air after take-off, and the pilot did well to guide the airplane safely back to the airport in Luanda.
“ValueJet Airline and the relevant Federal Government of Nigeria authorities including the Hon. Minister of Aviation, the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Chief of Staff to Mr. President 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,” concludes the statement from the football goveneing body.
Benin is currently top of the group with 17 points, while the Super Eagles are in third place with 14 points. The current situation makes Tuesday’s clash a must-win for the Super Eagles, while needing a result to go in their favour in the clash between South Africa and Rwanda in the other decisive group game.
