Nigeria U-17 women football team, the Flamingos, have been crowned champions of the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.

The Nigerian team defeated Japan 2-1 in a thrilling final match played at the Stade de Marrakech on Saturday night, securing the country’s first-ever title in the history of the competition.

It is a monumental achievement for Nigerian football, as the Flamingos have now become the first African team to win the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup since its inception in 2008.

Nigeria had a fairytale run to the final, overcoming formidable opponents like Brazil in the semi-finals to set up the clash against the Japanese side.

Both teams started the game with high intensity, but it was the Flamingos who broke the deadlock in the first half. A well-orchestrated attack saw forward Awawu Bashiru calmly slot the ball into the net in the 39th minute to put Nigeria ahead.

The Flamingos struck early in the second half to solidify their advantage. In the 47th minute, Oluebube Umejaiku fired home a brilliant finish to double Nigeria’s lead and put the team firmly in control of the contest.

Japan managed to pull one back in the 79th minute to reduce the deficit, but the goal proved to be a mere consolation as the Nigerian defense held firm until the final whistle.

1. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has taken its battle against the Federal High Court judgment nullifying the David Mark-led leadership of the party to the Court of Appeal, asking the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to take any consequential action while the legal challenge is pending.

The party says it has filed a notice of appeal against the judgment delivered on November 5, 2026, by Justice Peter Lifu, alongside an application seeking to suspend its execution pending the determination of the appeal.

2. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday approved the elevation of Akwa Ibom State’s airport to international status and threw his weight behind the proposed Ibom Deep Seaport, a major boost to the state’s economic and infrastructure ambitions. The President announced the airport approval during his visit to the state, following a formal request from Governor Umo Eno, and expressed support for the deep seaport project as a strategic investment capable of transforming the state’s maritime trade and industrial landscape

3. The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, on Friday, warned patent medicine dealers in Imo State against selling lethal, counterfeit and expired drugs to unsuspecting members of the public. NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, issued the warning in Owerri during a sensitisation workshop on pharmacovigilance and drug distribution safety.

4. The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has urged Rivers State residents to re-elect President Bola Tinubu in 2027. Wike said Tinubu deserved another four-year term for bold reforms and achievements in critical sectors, including removing the fuel subsidy, increasing allocations to states and local governments, improving university stability, and proposing the establishment of state police.

5. The Abia State Police Command has arrested suspects linked to the October 17 attack on Uratta Divisional Police Headquarters, rescued 10 stolen children, and recovered 15 firearms and 30 stolen vehicles in a major security crackdown across the state. The Command also disclosed that it arrested 109 suspects, comprising 89 males and 20 females, in connection with 211 criminal cases recorded between September 11, 2026 and November 6, 2026.

6. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was back on the campaign trail yesterday, firing broadside at former vice president Atiku  Abubakar and the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Peter Obi. President Tinubu, addressing hundreds of thousands of supporters at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, dismissed both men as lacking the leadership qualities required to rule Nigeria.

7. The Kebbi State governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Abubakar Malami, has condemned alleged attacks, intimidation and destruction of property during the party’s presidential campaign flag-off in Birnin Kebbi. Malami also called for an impartial investigation into the demolition of the Malami Pressure Group headquarters along Sani Abacha Bypass, Birnin Kebbi, describing the incident as one that raises concerns about democratic freedoms.

8. A retiring Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Uwani Musa Abba Aji, said on Friday that a United States travel ban imposed on a seven-member panel of the apex court remained in force. She attributed the ban to what she described as the misinterpretation of a judgment delivered by the panel. She, however, did not mention the particular contentious case.

9. The Kano high court has sentenced Umar Auwalu, and Yakubu Dayyabu to death by hanging for the murder of Fatima Abubakar, a 35-year-old woman, and her six children at Dorayi Chiranchi quarters in Kano.
Nasiru Saminu, the presiding judge, convicted the two men on Friday of a nine-count charge bothering on conspiracy, culpable homicide, and armed robbery.

10. Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation Fansan Yamma, have arrested a suspected notorious terrorist in Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The troops also intensified clearance operations against terrorists and dismantled several hideouts in Zamfara, as part of efforts to rid the region of criminal elements.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Friday said President Bola Tinubu will secure more than two million votes in Akwa Ibom state in the 2027 elections.

Akpabio made the promise during the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential rally in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital.

He said more than two million registered voters in Akwa Ibom have collected their permanent voter cards (PVCs).

“We are united for progress; we are united in love for the president and for the APC,” Akpabio said.

“Let me make a quick correction, the DG of the campaign said we have 3.2 million registered voters, and he said about 1.8 million have collected their PVCs. Can I correct him? Over two million people have collected their PVCs.

“So, how many votes are we projecting for President Tinubu? Two million votes. And two million votes he will have.

“We don’t play tricks in Akwa Ibom, we deliver as it should be delivered. So, the DG of the campaign, my people are prepared to vote the president back to Aso Rock with over 2 million votes.

“On behalf of my colleagues who are here, distinguished senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I’m very proud of the governors of the south-south.”