Nigeria's under-17 women's team, the Flamingos, will face Japan in the final of the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Rabat, Morocco, on Saturday, 7 November 2026.

The match

The final is at the Mohammed VI Football Complex, with kick-off set for 7.30pm Nigerian time. It will be the first time the two countries have met at this tournament. Flamingos captain Harmony Chidi said the players are determined to bring Nigeria its first world title at this level and make the country proud.

Road to the final

The Flamingos became the first African team ever to reach the final of the competition after beating Brazil 3-1 in the semi-final on Wednesday. After a goalless first half, Queen Joseph opened the scoring in the 56th minute, and Awawu Bashiru scored twice, in the 71st and 80th minutes, before Brazil pulled one back late on. Nigeria's previous best was third place in 2022, when they beat Germany in the bronze medal match. Ghana also finished third in 2012.

Japan's record

Japan are one of the strongest teams in youth women's football. They won the tournament in 2014, beating Spain in the final, and were runners-up in 2010 and 2016. At under-20 level, Japan beat Nigeria 2-1 in the bronze medal match of the 2012 U-20 Women's World Cup and won 6-0 when the two met in the group stage in 2016.

Praise from CAF and FIFA

CAF president Patrice Motsepe congratulated the Flamingos, saying they had made Africa proud, and confirmed he would travel to Rabat to watch the final in person. FIFA also congratulated the team on the historic achievement.

What's at stake

Victory would give Nigeria its first FIFA world title in women's football at any level and make the Flamingos the first African side to win the competition.

Newcastle United defender Amar Dedic was stopped by police in north-east England after a member of the public reported seeing two men carrying a bow and arrows.

What happened

According to reports on Friday, 6 November 2026, the 24-year-old Bosnia-Herzegovina international was travelling in a car with a friend when the report was made about two men walking along a track near a reservoir off Military Road in the Harlow Hill area of Northumberland. Six patrol cars, including armed officers, were reportedly sent, and the car was stopped about seven miles from where the men had been seen. Northumbria Police said that after speaking to the men they concluded there was no threat to the public, and a bow and arrows were seized from the vehicle. The police statement did not name the player.

Teammates arrive

Dedic reportedly cooperated fully with officers and had no bad intentions. Newcastle goalkeeper Mark Gillespie and former defender Paul Dummett reportedly arrived while officers were still talking to him, having been in the area, and stopped to support him.

Background

Dedic is a full-back who has played for clubs including Red Bull Salzburg and Benfica before moving to Newcastle.

A video from the dedication of Pastor David Ibiyeomie's 120,000-seat Hand of God Cathedral in Port Harcourt has sparked debate online, after a member of Pastor Jerry Eze's security team was seen reacting roughly to a worshipper.

What the video shows

The footage, shared on Facebook on Friday, 6 November 2026, shows the founder of Streams of Joy International arriving at the event. A man dropped to his knees as a sign of respect as the cleric walked past, and Pastor Eze briefly acknowledged him. However, one of his protocol officers then reportedly acted towards the man in a way many viewers felt was unnecessarily aggressive and disrespectful.

Background

The dedication of the Hand of God Cathedral, led by Bishop David Oyedepo, drew many of Nigeria's best-known pastors. Another widely shared video from the same event showed Jerry Eze kneeling to greet Oyedepo, Ibiyeomie and other senior ministers. Eze is known for his popular online prayer programme, 'New Season Prophetic Prayers and Declarations', which draws large audiences on YouTube and social media.

How people reacted

Many Nigerians criticised the protocol officer's behaviour, saying it was out of place at a celebratory religious event and that church leaders' security teams should treat members of the public with respect. Pastor Eze had not publicly commented at the time of writing.

A youth group from Nigeria's Middle Belt has declared support for President Bola Tinubu's 2027 re-election bid, after backing Peter Obi in 2023.

What was announced

Aviation businessman Isaac Balami, who convenes the National Rebirth Movement and is also a national director in the pro-Tinubu City Boy Movement, said in remarks reported on Saturday, 7 November 2026, that the initiative was inspired by a recent meeting between the President and a delegation of Middle Belt elders led by former defence minister General Theophilus Danjuma. He said the youths had listened to their elders and decided to take responsibility for the region's political future. Balami said he had earlier led the group to meet the President's son, Seyi Tinubu, where they pledged 10 million votes from the Middle Belt.

A change of side

In 2023, Balami and the same group had reportedly been asked by some of the same elders to mobilise support for Obi, then the Labour Party candidate, who performed strongly in Plateau and Nasarawa states and drew large youth support across the North Central zone. Balami said a sense of abandonment after that election led to the change. The group says it will work with the City Boy Movement and the APC campaign council.

Background

Obi is now the candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), with Rabiu Kwankwaso as his running mate. Both the APC and the opposition parties are campaigning hard in the North Central, which is seen as a key battleground. The presidential election is scheduled for 16 January 2027.

Reactions

Obi's campaign had not publicly responded at the time of writing. The 10 million figure is a pledge and cannot be independently verified.