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.

FIFA's message

FIFA congratulated the Flamingos on qualifying for the final, a first for Nigeria at this level of the women's game.

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.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has taken a swipe at former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, comparing their records on tackling environmental challenges.

What Tinubu said

Speaking in Akwa Ibom State, Tinubu accused Obi of failing to confront the serious erosion problems affecting Anambra State during his time as governor, and pointed out that Obi is now running for president under the NDC.

"Peter Obi is in one party they call NDC where he's running for president. He ran away from erosion in Anambra. He couldn't confront erosion. I, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, confronted the Atlantic Ocean. I tamed it for you," Tinubu said.

The President appeared to be referring to efforts to reclaim and protect land along the Lagos coastline, particularly the Eko Atlantic project, which began during his time as Lagos State governor.

Can the two really be compared?

Anambra has struggled with severe gully erosion for decades, with communities losing farmland, roads and homes. Tackling it requires substantial funding, engineering work and cooperation between different levels of government.

The Eko Atlantic project, on the other hand, involved major private investment and extensive coastal engineering to reclaim land from the Atlantic Ocean.

Both involve serious environmental challenges, but their circumstances, funding arrangements and engineering requirements are quite different.

The road to 2027

As the 2027 presidential election draws closer, exchanges like this are likely to become more common, with leaders publicly questioning one another's records in office.

Nigerians may also want to look closely at the actual results of these projects and the roles played by the leaders involved.

Over to you

Does Tinubu's role in the Eko Atlantic project give him the right to question Peter Obi's record on erosion in Anambra State, or should Nigerians judge both men by their overall performance in public office?

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has sent a pointed message to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, insisting he remains determined to contest the 2027 presidential election despite the legal and political battles surrounding the race.

In a statement attributed to him, Atiku reportedly declared that he is on the ballot and that the courts cannot be used to escape the verdict of Nigerians.

A direct challenge

The message is a direct challenge to Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as political activity builds ahead of the 2027 general elections.

It also raises a familiar question about the role of the judiciary in Nigeria's elections. Court judgments, disputes over party nominations and allegations of irregularities have shaped the country's politics for years.

What is at stake

For President Tinubu, the next election will come amid continuing public debate over the cost of living, economic reforms and insecurity. Opposition politicians hope to turn those concerns into votes, while the government points to its reforms as long-term fixes.

For Atiku, getting onto the ballot will depend on party nomination processes, electoral requirements and the outcome of any legal decisions.

One thing is clear: the battle for 2027 is already taking shape, and more political confrontations are likely as the election draws closer.

Over to you

If Atiku faces Tinubu again in 2027, do you think Nigerians will vote differently from how they voted in 2023? Or will the opposition need a completely different arrangement to win?

When you look at the massive Hand of God Auditorium built by Pastor David Ibiyeomie, it is hard not to imagine something different.

What if a structure of that size, with all the money, planning, engineering and resources that went into it, were a massive factory producing goods for Nigerians and the international market?

Imagine the jobs

Just imagine the number of young Nigerians who could be employed there: engineers, technicians, machine operators, electricians, cleaners, security staff, accountants, drivers and thousands of other workers earning salaries and caring for their families.

Think about the businesses that would spring up around it. Food vendors, transport operators, suppliers and small business owners would all benefit from the economic activity.

And imagine if that factory produced the things Nigeria currently spends billions importing. It could strengthen the economy, encourage local production and create opportunities for future generations.

This is not an attack on the church

This is not an argument against Christianity, churches or places of worship. Everyone has the right to practise their religion, and religious organisations also provide jobs and contribute to society.

But Nigerians must begin to ask serious questions about our priorities as a nation.

A nation searching for jobs

Millions of young Nigerians are searching for work. Many graduates have certificates but nowhere to work. Some have spent years learning skills, yet there are few industries where they can put those skills to use.

Meanwhile, the country keeps celebrating enormous buildings without giving the same attention to factories, industries and other investments that could provide lasting employment.

Imagine if wealthy Nigerians, including religious leaders, invested more heavily in manufacturing alongside their religious projects. Imagine the difference it could make.

Prayer and production

A nation cannot pray its way into industrial development without also investing in production, skills, infrastructure and jobs.

Nigeria needs churches, yes. But it also desperately needs factories where young people can work, earn a decent living and build their future.

Over to you

If you had the money to build an auditorium as big as Pastor Ibiyeomie's Hand of God, would you build a church, or a factory that could employ thousands of Nigerians?