A plane carrying Portsmouth's footballers to Nigeria for a pre-season trip had to abort its landing in Abuja.
The pilot of the Airbus 319 abandoned the descent after failing to gain clearance from the control tower.
The team were instead flown around for half an hour in stormy conditions before a successful landing was made.
Pompey defender Linvoy Primus said: "We were just above the runway when the pilot suddenly pulled the plane out of the landing and back up in the sky."
He told the club's official website: "We were all shocked. No-one knew what was happening. There had been no warning that there was a problem.
"But credit to the pilot who soon told us that he had been unable to establish contact with the tower and had decided not to land.
"After circling for half an hour in lightning he then managed to get us down safely."
Portsmouth later thrashed Nigerian champions Kano Pillars 5-0 at the Abuja Stadium.
They will take on Community Shield opponents Manchester United in a warm-up game on Sunday.
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