Posted by By MONICA IHEAKAM on
Nigeria's Under-20 female team, Falconets and their entire technical crew on Wednesday evening cheated death as they escaped a plane crash on their way to Yaounde, Cameroon to keep a date with their Cameroonian counterparts in a FIFA Under-20 Women World Cup second leg qualifiers.
Nigeria's Under-20 female team, Falconets and their entire technical crew on Wednesday evening cheated death as they escaped a plane crash on their way to Yaounde, Cameroon to keep a date with their Cameroonian counterparts in a FIFA Under-20 Women World Cup second leg qualifiers.
Daily Sunsport enquiries revealed the team flew in from Abuja to Lagos, where they boarded a Virgin Nigeria flight to Douala.
Sources close to the team disclosed the plane was forced to land at Port Harcourt International Airport after it developed engine faults mid air.
Although none of the players and their coaches were injured, secretary to the team, Mrs. Faith Anuge was not so lucky as she sustained a cut on her leg.
Also, the chairperson of the Women Football Development Committee (WFDC) and Nigeria Football Association (NFA) board member, Princess Bola Jegede, who was with the team, it was gathered was rushed to the hospital on account of the shock she received.
When contacted on phone, chief coach of the team, Dan Evumena confirmed that the plane in which the team were traveling on force-landed in Port Harcourt.
Evumena, who sounded calm, said no member of the Falconets squad was injured. He, however, added that all the players are still in shock over the incident.
He disclosed he was trying to assure the players of their safety, as most of them were jittery as they were trying to ensure all the teams' luggage were safely brought out of the aircraft.
'The players are all safe, most of them are shocked by the incident and I have been doing my best to calm them down and assure them that all is well.
'I am very grateful to God no life was lost and the only injury we had is the team secretary, who sustained a cut on her leg."
The Falconets, who won the first leg 1-0 at the Abuja National Stadium a forthnight ago, left in high spirits pledging victory in their Saturday game in Yaounde.
As at the time of filing in this report, both Princess Jegede and the team secretary, Faith Anuge, are still in the hospital receiving treatments.