After a turbulent two-day journey, the Super Eagles arrived in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, yesterday morning to begin preparations for their last Group C 2026 World Cup qualifier against the Cheetahs of Benin Republic, tomorrow.

The Super Eagles had a near death experience on Saturday when their Valuejet Airline flight was forced to land in Luanda, Angola, when the pilots noticed an unusual bounce in the craft midway into the journey that started in Polokwane on Saturday.

On landing in Angola, the pilots noticed a cracked windscreen, which made continuing with the aircraft impossible.

Eventually, another Valuejet plane was sent to Angola to convey the team to Uyo and they arrived at the Obong Victor Attah Airport yesterday, by 8.05 a.m.

The team, based at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel in Ikot-Ekpene, trained later in the evening at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium.

Their opponents, Benin Republic, which lead Group C, arrived in Uyo on Saturday. They are staying at the Ibom Icon and Golf Resort. They trained at the practice pitch of the same Stadium yesterday morning.

The Cheetahs will have their official training session at the main pitch of the stadium from 5.00 p.m. today, while the Super Eagles will take their turn from 6.15 p.m.

Tomorrow’s big battle between two of the three teams still in contention for Group C’s lone automatic ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals in North America, will kick off at 5.00 p.m. Simultaneously, the clash between South Africa and Rwanda, which is also of importance to the final outcome of Group C, will commence in Nelspruit.