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Thursday, 5 November 2026Lagos · LondonUpdated 06:43 GMT

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Flamingos beat Brazil 3-1 to reach first U-17 Women's World Cup final

A football on a grass pitch
Stock image: Peter Glaser baraida / Wikimedia Commons, CC0

Nigeria's under-17 women's team, the Flamingos, have made history by reaching the final of the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup for the first time.

The match

The Flamingos beat Brazil 3-1 in the semi-final on Wednesday night, 4 November 2026, according to reports. Queen Joseph opened the scoring in the 56th minute, and Awawu Bashiru doubled the lead in the 71st minute before adding her second goal in the 80th minute to put the game beyond Brazil's reach.

A record run

The win beats the team's previous best performance, a bronze medal at the 2022 edition of the tournament. On the way to the semi-final, the Flamingos beat Venezuela in the quarter-finals, a result that earned praise from the Confederation of African Football.

The final

The Flamingos will now face Japan in the final as they chase Nigeria's first FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup title. Japan, one of the strongest sides in women's youth football, won the tournament in 2014.

Background

The result comes at a difficult time for Nigerian women's football at senior level. The Super Falcons failed to qualify for the Women's World Cup for the first time, and no Nigerian player was shortlisted for this year's CAF Women's Player of the Year award. The Flamingos' success has been welcomed as a sign that a new generation of players is coming through.

How people reacted

Nigerians celebrated the win across social media, praising the young players and their coaches and urging the government and the football federation to support them ahead of the final.

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SportReported
Victor Osimhen in a Nigeria jersey
Photo: Fédération Guinéenne Football / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

Osimhen left off CAF Men's Player of the Year shortlist

Victor Osimhen has reportedly been left out of CAF's 10-man shortlist for the 2026 Men's Player of the Year award, despite helping Nigeria win AFCON bronze and Galatasaray win the Turkish league. Reigning winner Achraf Hakimi heads the list.

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Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has been left out of the shortlist for the 2026 CAF Men's Player of the Year award, according to nominations released by the Confederation of African Football on Wednesday, 4 November.

The snub

The 27-year-old had what many considered a strong year. He helped Nigeria finish third at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco and was a key figure as Galatasaray won the Turkish Super Lig title in 2026. Osimhen won the award in 2023, becoming the first Nigerian to do so since Nwankwo Kanu in 1999.

Who made the list

The reigning African Player of the Year, Morocco and Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi, heads the 10-man shortlist, which reportedly also includes Senegal's Sadio Mané, Ghana's Antoine Semenyo and Ivory Coast's Amad Diallo.

Background

The omission follows news this week that no Nigerian player made the shortlist for the women's award for the first time since it began in 2001. Nigeria still has nominations in other categories, including the Super Falcons for Women's National Team of the Year. The CAF Awards ceremony will be held on 7 December at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts in Lagos.

How people reacted

Nigerian fans reacted angrily, with many saying Osimhen's achievements deserved recognition and questioning how the shortlist was chosen. Others said the competition was strong this year.

PoliticsReported
The National Assembly complex in Abuja
Stock image: Kabusa16 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

NJC suspends three judges for a year without pay over misconduct

The National Judicial Council has suspended three judicial officers for one year without pay and cautioned eight others over misconduct, including unlawful detention of litigants. One judge was also barred from promotion for three years.

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The National Judicial Council (NJC) has suspended three judicial officers for one year without pay over misconduct, according to reports on Wednesday, 4 November 2026.

The decisions

The decisions were taken at the council's 112th meeting on 3 November, chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun. The council also issued cautions to eight others and approved warning letters to three judges following investigations into petitions about their conduct. The offences included unlawful detention of litigants, abuse of judicial authority and breaches of due process.

Who was suspended

Those suspended were reportedly Justice Hannatu Mohammed Kabir of the Nasarawa State High Court, Grand Kadi Mohammed Sani Salihu of the Jigawa State Sharia Court of Appeal and Justice Sobere Biambo of the Rivers State High Court. The council said Justice Kabir ordered the arrest and detention of a litigant for 58 days over alleged disobedience of a court order without following proper contempt procedures, and barred her from consideration for promotion for three years. Grand Kadi Salihu was suspended over his role in reopening a judgment already delivered by an FCT Upper Area Court.

Background

The NJC is the body responsible for disciplining judges in Nigeria. Public trust in the judiciary has been a recurring concern, particularly over election cases and conflicting court orders. Civil society groups have repeatedly called on the council to act firmly against judicial misconduct ahead of the 2027 elections, when courts are expected to handle many disputes.

Why it matters

Observers say the decisions send a signal that judges will be held accountable for abusing their powers.

World & WestReported
A globe of the Earth
Stock image: Zde / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

UK court rejects Ibori's appeal to cut £101.5m confiscation order

The Court of Appeal in London has dismissed former Delta governor James Ibori's bid to reduce a £101.5 million confiscation order made after his 2012 conviction for money laundering. Ibori says he is consulting his lawyers.

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Britain's Court of Appeal has dismissed a challenge by former Delta State governor James Ibori to reduce a £101.5 million confiscation order against him, according to reports.

The ruling

The court rejected the appeal on Tuesday, 3 November 2026. Ibori had sought to reduce the amount by about £4.3 million. The order was issued by Southwark Crown Court in July 2023, directing him to pay or face an eight-year prison term in default. The appeal had delayed enforcement, which can now proceed unless he takes the case to the UK Supreme Court.

Ibori's response

Ibori reportedly said he was consulting his lawyers on his next steps and expressed frustration at how long the proceedings had taken.

Background

Ibori governed Delta State from 1999 to 2007. He was arrested in Dubai and extradited to Britain in 2011. In 2012 he pleaded guilty in a London court to laundering tens of millions of dollars of public funds through British banks and properties, and was sentenced to 13 years in prison. He was released in late 2016 after serving about half of the sentence and returned to Nigeria in 2017. The confiscation proceedings followed investigations by Nigerian and British anti-corruption authorities, and Nigeria has pushed for the recovered funds to be returned.

Why it matters

The case is one of the most significant examples of international cooperation to recover stolen public funds from Nigeria.

Naija newsReported
The Lagos skyline seen from the water
Stock image: kopee15 / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain

Reps bill would let regulators shut hospitals that refuse emergency patients

A bill to amend the National Health Act has passed second reading in the House of Representatives. It would require hospitals to begin triage within 15 minutes and stabilise emergency patients within 30 minutes, or risk losing their licences.

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A bill that would allow regulators to suspend or revoke the licences of hospitals that refuse or delay emergency treatment has passed its second reading in the House of Representatives.

What the bill says

The bill, sponsored by House spokesman Akin Rotimi and debated on Wednesday, 4 November 2026, seeks to amend the National Health Act 2014 by setting mandatory timelines for emergency care. Under the proposal, facilities would have to begin assessing a patient within 15 minutes of arrival and provide basic stabilisation within 30 minutes. Where a life-threatening condition is identified, staff would have to start lifesaving treatment immediately, and hospitals with a free bed would have to assign it to an emergency patient.

Why it is needed

Section 20 of the existing Act already bans health workers and facilities from refusing emergency treatment, with a fine of ₦100,000, up to six months in prison, or both. However, some hospitals have continued to turn emergency patients away or demand payment before treatment. Rotimi said delays, administrative hurdles, upfront payment demands and poor referrals were still causing avoidable complications and deaths, and that the amendment would make clear who is responsible and how quickly they must act.

Background

There have been many reports in Nigeria of accident and gunshot victims, pregnant women and others dying after being refused care because they could not pay a deposit or provide a police report. The government has previously said hospitals must treat gunshot victims without waiting for police clearance.

What happens next

The bill will now go to committee for further work before returning to the House for third reading.