Sunday, January 11, 2026
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CAN Condemns Deadly Attack on Kwara Church, Demands Immediate Action on Abductions

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ABUJA — The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has strongly condemned Tuesday’s fatal attack on worshippers at Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Kwara State, describing it as a painful escalation in the wave of violence targeting Christian communities.

In a statement issued Thursday, CAN President Archbishop Daniel Okoh called the assault — which left two worshippers dead and several others, including the pastor, abducted — “a heartbreaking reminder of the growing insecurity facing Christian communities across the country.”

Okoh extended the Association’s solidarity to the bereaved families, the injured, and the Eruku community, stressing that “their pain is our collective pain.”

The umbrella Christian body highlighted what it described as a disturbing pattern of repeated attacks on Christian populations in vulnerable areas, an issue it has repeatedly brought to the attention of both Nigerian authorities and the international community.

CAN urged security agencies to spare no effort in rescuing the abducted worshippers and ensuring the perpetrators are swiftly brought to justice. It also called for a transparent investigation to identify and address any security lapses that allowed the attack to occur.

Beyond immediate rescue operations, the Association demanded urgent medical, psychological and material support for affected families, alongside stronger, long-term measures to protect places of worship in high-risk zones.

Archbishop Okoh appealed for calm among the Christian community and urged religious, traditional and community leaders to discourage any form of reprisal, emphasising that efforts must remain focused on justice, healing and peace.

“We will continue to monitor developments closely and engage with authorities and partners to ensure the victims of the Eruku attack receive justice and that Christian communities across Nigeria are better protected,” the statement concluded.

The attack in Eruku, the third in the area within weeks, has intensified calls for a comprehensive national strategy to tackle banditry and violent extremism in the North-Central region.

South-West Leaders: Establish State Police Now or Risk Foreign Intervention and National Collapse

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LAGOS — The Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission has issued a stark warning that Nigeria is “standing at a precipice,” declaring that the failure to urgently establish state police could open the door to foreign military intervention, deepen ethnic and religious divisions, and trigger mass displacement across the country.

In an open letter signed by Director-General Dr. Seye Oyeleye and released on Thursday, the South-West regional body described the current security architecture as “woefully inadequate,” arguing that the Nigeria Police Force has become, in many instances, “an instrument of oppression rather than a guardian of peace and order.”

“The daily reality of banditry, kidnapping, farmer-herder clashes and insurgency has exposed the limitations of a centralised policing system,” the statement read. “Foreign intervention, if allowed to occur, will not only undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty but also exacerbate ethnic and religious divisions, leading to long-term instability.”

The Commission insisted that state police — with proper constitutional safeguards, funding mechanisms and oversight — represents the “only credible path” to restoring public confidence, protecting lives and property, and preventing external powers from filling the security vacuum.

Dr. Oyeleye called on the National Assembly and the Federal Government to “expedite legislative action without further delay,” stressing that “every day of inaction costs Nigerian lives and weakens the foundations of our democracy.”

The intervention adds significant weight to the growing chorus from governors, traditional rulers and civil society groups who argue that decentralised policing is now a moral and strategic imperative. The South-West, despite being one of the more stable regions, has seen a surge in kidnappings along its highways and rising tensions in rural communities.

“A systemic approach anchored on state police will demonstrate to Nigerians and the international community that the government is resolute in confronting insecurity and committed to a safer, stronger, and more united Nigeria,” the statement concluded.

With the constitutional amendment process for state police already underway in both chambers of the National Assembly, Thursday’s declaration from the influential DAWN Commission is likely to intensify pressure on lawmakers to fast-track the reforms before the end of the current legislative session.

US Lawmaker Warns Nigeria: End Christian Persecution or Face Consequences

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WASHINGTON — Republican Congressman Riley Moore issued a blunt warning to Nigeria’s top security officials on Tuesday, telling a high-powered delegation that the United States will no longer tolerate the “horrific violence and persecution” of Christians and expects “tangible steps” to halt attacks by Boko Haram, ISWAP and Fulani militants.

The closed-door meeting at the U.S. Capitol brought National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu together with Nigeria’s Attorney General, Inspector-General of Police, Chief of Defence Staff and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Bianca Ojukwu — one of the highest-level Nigerian delegations to visit Washington in recent years.

In a strongly worded statement released after the talks, Moore invoked President Donald Trump’s repeated pledges to protect persecuted Christians worldwide.

“I made it crystal clear that Christians must not be subjected to violence, persecution, displacement and death simply for their faith,” Moore said. “President Trump and Congress are united and serious in our resolve to end the violence against Christians and destroy terrorist groups inside Nigeria.”

The West Virginia lawmaker, who has championed legislation targeting what advocacy groups call a “genocide” against Nigerian Christians, told the delegation that deepened U.S.-Nigeria security cooperation hinges on visible progress in protecting vulnerable communities, particularly in the northeast and Middle Belt regions.

Nigeria remains one of the deadliest places on earth for Christians, with Open Doors ranking it among the top five countries for Christian persecution for several consecutive years. More than 3,000 people — the majority Christian — were killed in faith-related violence in the first ten months of 2025 alone, according to monitors.

While the delegation outlined Abuja’s counter-terrorism efforts and logistical challenges, Moore stressed that the United States stands ready to provide assistance — but only if Nigeria demonstrates concrete action.

No immediate comment was available from the Nigerian side, though sources familiar with the discussion described the tone as “frank but constructive.”

The meeting comes amid renewed U.S. scrutiny of Nigeria’s human-rights record under the second Trump administration, with several lawmakers threatening sanctions and aid restrictions if the bloodshed continues unchecked.

Navy Deploys Warships, Helicopters in Major Maritime Security Exercise

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PORT HARCOURT – The Eastern Naval Command has launched a large-scale, multi-agency maritime exercise, deploying nine ships, three helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles to bolster the protection of Nigeria’s vital economic assets in the Gulf of Guinea.

Codenamed “Exercise DIN MINGI” (Safe Waters), the two-day drill was flagged off Tuesday by the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Rear Admiral Chiedozie Donald Okehie, from the Navy Jetty in Onne, Rivers State. The operation is designed to evaluate the combat readiness of the Eastern Fleet and enhance coordination among security services.

Rear Admiral Okehie stated that this year’s theme, “Protecting Critical Infrastructure Through Inter-Agency Collaboration,” directly reflects the Command’s strategic pillars. The exercise will feature a complex simulation of an opposed boarding of a hijacked Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) vessel, a critical scenario for safeguarding the country’s energy exports.

“In the Armed Forces, retraining is essential. This exercise forms part of our training objectives to ensure our men remain combat ready,” Okehie said.

The substantial deployment includes naval vessels of various classes, Air Force helicopters, an Epsilon EP55 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), and multiple assault boats. In a notable inter-agency collaboration, operatives from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) are also participating to practice the identification of psychoactive substances on suspect vessels.

The FOC explained that the drill aims to demonstrate a unified approach that integrates air and surface platforms to restrict the operational freedom of criminal elements in Nigeria’s territorial waters. He reiterated that the operation aligns with the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas’s mission to maintain a professional force capable of securing the nation’s maritime domain.

Rear Admiral Okehie assured that all participating units would strictly adhere to the Rules of Engagement and Standard Operating Procedures throughout the exercise, which concludes on Wednesday.

Nigeria’s Democracy Not Under Threat, Asserts Wike, Slams PDP Chairman’s ‘Reckless’ Comments

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ABUJA – The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday forcefully dismissed claims that Nigeria’s democracy is in peril, labeling recent allegations by a factional chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Tanimu Turaki, as “reckless political indulgence” designed to stoke national tension.

Wike issued the rebuttal during a courtesy visit by the board and management of the newly inaugurated South-South Development Commission (SSDC) at his office in Abuja.

The Minister took aim at Turaki’s televised remarks, which alleged a genocide against Christians in Nigeria and suggested the country’s democracy required foreign intervention to survive. Wike condemned such statements as a “national security threat” that misrepresents the nation to the international community.

“Look at what someone said yesterday. You have internal crises in your own party, yet you go on national television claiming there is genocide against Christians,” Wike stated. “Essentially, you are telling the world that this government is committing genocide… Some are even calling Trump to ‘save their democracy’. How can you call an outsider to save you when you can’t obey a simple court order?”

He asserted that the nation’s democratic institutions remain stable, arguing that the real danger lies in political actors who deliberately peddle incendiary claims. “You cannot keep your house in order and then blame others for your failures. Impunity cannot continue,” he added.

Shifting focus to the SSDC, Wike urged its leadership to shun political distractions and learn from the failures of past regional interventionist agencies, which he said collapsed due to “corruption, divided loyalties, and poor leadership.”

He cautioned the commission against repeating the mistakes of agencies like the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDC), where, he recalled, contractors “rushed in from Abuja with portfolios” while billions of naira in funding yielded minimal developmental impact.

“Don’t go and do streets that lead only to one person’s house. Don’t duplicate projects states or local governments are already doing,” Wike advised. “Go to the communities, ask them what their immediate needs are. Support the President fully. Don’t divide your loyalty. Your loyalty is to the President who appointed you.”

The FCT Minister, who acknowledged facing sustained political attacks since assuming office, encouraged the board to maintain integrity. “I am here as Minister because I knew I could do the work. And yes, you will step on toes. But I’m not afraid as long as I’m doing the right thing,” he said.

He concluded with a stern financial warning to the new team: “Today, you are united because there’s no project and no money yet. But the moment ₦50 billion drops and someone spends it without approval, fights will start. Don’t let that be your legacy.”

In her response, the SSDC Managing Director, Ms. Usoro Akpabio, assured the Minister of the commission’s commitment to its mandate. “On behalf of the good people of the South-South… be assured that we are fully committed to delivering on our mandate to drive regional development and economic growth,” she said.

NYSC Mobilisation Backlog Hits 500,000 Graduates: Systemic Failures Fuel Calls for Reform

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ABUJA — Over 500,000 Nigerian graduates are languishing in a bureaucratic purgatory, their dreams deferred by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme’s crippling backlogs and chronic underfunding—a crisis so acute that it’s sparking whispers of mass non-compliance and demands for a total overhaul of the mandatory program.

Fresh data from the NYSC reveals a staggering 317% surge in pending mobilisations since pre-pandemic 2019 levels, with 78,000 from the 2022 cohort, 212,000 from 2023, 185,000 from 2024, and a fresh 65,000 registered in 2025 still awaiting call-up letters.

Designed in 1973 to foster national unity when universities churned out fewer than 3,000 graduates annually, the scheme now grapples with an avalanche of over 400,000 new entrants yearly, exposing a relic system ill-equipped for modern Nigeria’s youth bulge.

The frustration boils over on social media and in student unions, where viral posts decry the “pointless ritual” as a gateway to unemployment. One trending X (formerly Twitter) lament captures the zeitgeist: “500,000 graduates refuse to register for NYSC this year, you will all crash the system and force a reset of the law and scheme. But let’s keep paying ransom and risking your lives for jobs you are not assured of getting.” While no official boycott has materialized—searches yield zero confirmed refusals—the sentiment echoes a groundswell of disillusionment, amplified by recent portal meltdowns that left thousands unable to register for the 2025 Batch C Stream II, even after a 48-hour extension.

“It’s not refusal; it’s resignation,” says Chinedu Okoro, a 2024 University of Lagos economics graduate stuck in the queue. “We pay fees, endure glitches, and for what? A year of ₦77,000 monthly stipend—up from ₦33,000 with the new minimum wage—while inflation devours it, and post-service jobs are a myth. Over 40% youth unemployment? NYSC feels like indentured servitude.”

Okoro’s cohort, like thousands of HND holders protesting exclusion for part-time ND studies, views the scheme as discriminatory relic, violating constitutional equality clauses and blocking access to federal jobs, postgraduate admissions, and even international visas.

At the heart of the logjam: woeful funding and tech woes. Despite a N430 billion 2025 allocation—including N373 billion for allowances—the NYSC rations slots, delaying batches by months and forcing rationing among institutions.

Portal crashes, blamed on outdated servers lacking auto-scaling or redundancy, have become ritual humiliation: Late confirmations, stalled biometrics, and error-riddled uploads push users to the next cycle, derailing careers.

“A national system serving millions needs cloud infrastructure that expands with demand,” tech analyst Ifeanyi Eze quips. “NYSC’s downtime isn’t glitch—it’s governance failure.”

Compounding the chaos, JAMB’s April 2024 crackdown flagged thousands of “fake admissions,” barring another 14,000 from mobilisation and stranding them in limbo.

Protests erupt: HND grads in Lagos brandish placards—”Say No to Discrimination”—demanding inclusion, while polytechnic alumni threaten nationwide demos, citing ignored petitions to the Education and Youth ministers.

Reform voices grow louder. Civil society groups like the Education Rights Campaign call for voluntary service, digital overhauls, and delinking NYSC from job prerequisites—a “reset” that could liberate graduates from what they dub “ransom to a broken system.”

NYSC DG Brig. Gen. Olakunle Fadeyi, in a November statement, vowed portal upgrades and backlog clearances by Q1 2026, but skeptics abound. “Promises are cheap; action is scarce,” Okoro retorts.

As Nigeria’s youth—over 70% under 30—face a job market where even NYSC certificates guarantee nothing, the scheme’s irony stings: Meant to build a nation, it’s now a barrier to its future. Without swift resets, that viral defiance may evolve from tweet to tidal wave.

Israel Advances Bill to Cut Power, Water to UNRWA Facilities and Seize Jerusalem Properties

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JERUSALEM — The Israeli Knesset on Wednesday gave preliminary approval to legislation that would disconnect electricity and water supplies to all properties associated with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and allow the state to immediately reclaim agency compounds in East Jerusalem.

In a 28–8 first-reading vote dominated by the governing coalition, lawmakers advanced amendments to the October 2024 law that already banned UNRWA operations inside Israel and prohibited official contacts with the agency. The new measures, tabled by Likud MKs Avichay Buaron and Boaz Bismuth, now proceed to committee before three additional readings required for final passage.

If enacted, the bill would:

  • Oblige Israeli utility companies to terminate services to any property registered to UNRWA unless the agency formally disavows its presence (a step UNRWA has said it will never take).
  • Authorise the Israel Land Authority to seize, without court order, several East Jerusalem sites leased to UNRWA since the 1960s, including offices in the Ma’alot Dafna and Kafr Aqab neighbourhoods.

Proponents, led by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit party and elements of Likud, described the legislation as the final step in “dismantling an organisation that perpetuates terror”. They cited Israeli intelligence claims that at least twelve UNRWA employees participated in the 7 October 2023 Hamas attacks and that a Hamas command centre operated beneath the agency’s Gaza City headquarters.

UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini called the vote “a grave violation of the UN Charter and international law”, warning that cutting utilities would effectively close hundreds of schools and clinics serving Palestinian refugees across the occupied territories and Gaza.

The move comes despite the International Court of Justice’s July 2024 advisory opinion declaring Israel’s occupation unlawful and emphasising UNRWA’s indispensable humanitarian role. Seven European governments that had briefly suspended funding in early 2024 have since resumed contributions after independent reviews found no evidence of widespread staff involvement in militancy.

Opposition lawmakers, including Meretz and the Arab Joint List, condemned the bill as “collective punishment” that would deepen the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where the agency remains the largest provider of food, healthcare and education.

With the coalition holding a comfortable majority, analysts expect the legislation to become law early in 2026 unless blocked by the High Court of Justice or softened in committee.

PDP in ‘Hell’: Bala Mohammed Begs Tinubu to Spare Opposition Amid Wike-Fueled Crisis

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ABUJA — Bauchi State Governor and PDP Governors’ Forum Chairman Senator Bala Mohammed unleashed a raw plea to President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday, imploring him to “allow the PDP to survive” as the opposition party’s headquarters remains under police siege and its factions trade expulsions in a blood feud that threatens to gut Nigeria’s democracy.

Barely 48 hours after a tear-gas-laced brawl at Wadata Plaza that saw Mohammed and Oyo’s Seyi Makinde flee choking clouds of riot gas, the Bauchi helmsman—flanked by allies in a hastily convened presser—painted a picture of existential torment. “Tinubu should allow PDP to survive. We are going through hell,” Mohammed declared, his voice cracking with exhaustion after a night of thwarted meetings and barbed-wire blockades.

The outburst, captured in a viral Channels TV clip, underscores a party on the brink: FCT Minister Nyesom Wike’s camp has dissolved state executives in Bauchi, Oyo, Ekiti, and Lagos, while expelling Mohammed, Makinde, Zamfara’s Dauda Lawal, new Chairman Tanimu Turaki, and PDP elders like Bode George and Adolphus Wabara.

“This is not just a PDP fight—it’s about democracy’s survival,” Mohammed thundered, alleging Wike’s “impunity and arrogance,” fueled by Tinubu’s tacit backing, aims to neuter the opposition ahead of 2027. “We are in hell because people from within, empowered by external forces, are destroying us. But we will lay down our lives to protect this mandate.”

He invoked party laws to affirm the Ibadan convention’s legitimacy, where Turaki’s faction triumphed, and vowed judicial recourse to reclaim the secretariat from Wike’s “interlopers.”

The chaos erupted Tuesday when Turaki’s NWC—bolstered by Mohammed and Makinde—stormed the HQ for an inaugural session, only to collide with Wike loyalists under acting chair Mohammed Abdurrahman, who had summoned a rival NEC. Fists, shouts, and sirens ensued; anti-riot squads dispersed the melee with gas, but not before mutual purges: Wike’s group booted the governors and Turaki, while the Ibadan victors ousted Wike, Abdurrahman, and ex-Secretary Samuel Anyanwu.

Wednesday’s lockdown—razor wire coiling like a serpent around the gates—froze operations, stranding staff and symbolizing the party’s paralysis. FCT Police, citing “higher orders,” rebuffed queries, but whispers point to federal intervention to cool tempers. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) decried it as a “disturbing assault on multiparty democracy,” accusing Tinubu’s APC of orchestrating a “one-party siege” via Wike’s infiltration.

Mohammed, a vocal Tinubu critic on policies from subsidy removal to tax hikes, framed the strife as orchestrated sabotage. “Tinubu’s government is intimidating us, but we are strong and resolute,” he said, echoing May’s accusations of federal arm-twisting on PDP governors.

Yet, in a nod to unlikely olive branches, he recalled praising Tinubu’s 2023 Rivers mediation, insisting his barbs stem from policy woes, not personal animus.

As X erupts with #SavePDP hashtags and memes of Wike as “APC mole,” analysts warn the implosion could hand Tinubu a 2027 cakewalk. “A fractured PDP is music to the APC,” quipped one Enugu-based commentator. Turaki, undeterred, rallied: “We oblige the chairman’s invitation… Enough is enough.” For now, with courts looming and governors unbowed, Nigeria’s opposition hangs by a thread—its hellish inferno a stark referendum on Tinubu’s tolerance for rivals.

Army to Recruit 24,000 New Soldiers in Bold Push Against Rising Insecurity

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KADUNA — In a decisive response to Nigeria’s spiraling security threats, Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu announced on Wednesday plans to recruit and train 24,000 additional soldiers over the next year, aiming to dramatically bolster the Nigerian Army’s manpower and operational edge across volatile fronts from the northeast to the northwest.

Speaking during an operational tour of the 1 Division headquarters here, Shaibu—elevated to the top military post just weeks ago by President Bola Tinubu—laid out the ambitious blueprint to officers from second lieutenants to brigadier generals, framing it as an urgent “boots on the ground” imperative amid bandit raids, insurgent ambushes, and kidnappings that have claimed hundreds of lives in recent months.

The initiative, greenlit by Tinubu, leverages three newly approved training facilities designed to churn out battle-hardened troops at an accelerated pace.

“The area of responsibility is vast, and security challenges are dynamic. To meet these threats effectively, we need more personnel,” Shaibu declared, outlining a phased rollout: “In six months, we aim to train 12,000 soldiers from the new facilities. If we operate two streams, we can produce up to 24,000 soldiers ready for deployment.”

The facilities, strategically sited for efficiency, will drill recruits in cutting-edge warfare tactics, advanced weaponry, and leadership essentials, ensuring graduates hit the ground running in high-risk zones like Borno’s counter-ISIS operations or Zamfara’s anti-bandit sweeps.

Shaibu emphasized quality alongside quantity: “This is a desperate time for our nation. The soldiers we train must be ready to tackle multifaceted challenges. We are committed to ensuring they are properly equipped, trained, and led.”

Reaffirming the Army’s “Soldier First” ethos, the COAS pledged ramped-up welfare packages—encompassing better housing, medical care, and family support—to retain talent and motivate the influx. He charged senior officers with mentoring the newcomers, instilling discipline and core values to sustain professionalism amid grueling deployments.

Shaibu’s visit also zeroed in on logistics hurdles and welfare gaps, with frank exchanges on bolstering supply chains for remote outposts and expanding mental health resources for troops scarred by endless patrols.

The timing could not be more acute: Just days ago, bandits snatched 25 schoolgirls in Kebbi— one escaped, 24 remain captive—while ambushes in Kwara and Borno felled soldiers and civilians alike, prompting Tinubu to scrap foreign trips for crisis oversight.

Military analysts hail the surge as a potential game-changer, projecting it could swell active forces by 20%, enabling swifter interventions and wider territorial coverage. Yet skeptics caution that recruitment alone won’t suffice without tackling root causes like arms smuggling and economic despair fueling militancy. As Shaibu wraps his Kaduna briefing, the Army’s clarion call echoes: More boots, yes—but victory demands the full arsenal of strategy, resources, and resolve.

Nnadozie Achieves Historic Hat-Trick: Third Straight CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year Crown

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RABAT, Morocco — Chiamaka Nnadozie has etched her name into African football immortality, becoming the first women’s goalkeeper to win the CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award three years in a row after claiming the 2025 honor at Wednesday night’s star-studded ceremony here.

The 24-year-old Super Falcons and Brighton & Hove Albion shot-stopper edged out Morocco’s Khadija Er-Rmichi and South Africa’s Andile Dlamini to secure her third consecutive title—following triumphs in 2023 and 2024—in a category that celebrates the continent’s elite custodians.

Nnadozie’s hat-trick caps a banner year, building on her pivotal role in Nigeria’s record-extending 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title in July, where she earned Goalkeeper of the Tournament honors with four clean sheets in six matches and just two goals conceded from open play.

The Paris FC alum’s composure under fire—highlighted by clutch penalty saves in the WAFCON final comeback against the hosts—has propelled her onto the global stage, including a fourth-place finish in the 2025 Ballon d’Or Yashin Trophy and a shortlist nod for FIFA’s The Best Women’s Goalkeeper award.

Her seamless transition to England’s Women’s Super League with Brighton has further showcased her reflexes and command, earning rave reviews from coaches and peers alike.

“This is a dream come true, but it’s bigger than me—it’s for every young girl in Nigeria dreaming of the gloves,” Nnadozie said in her acceptance speech, glove raised triumphantly to a roaring crowd that included CAF President Patrice Motsepe and FIFA’s Gianni Infantino.

The win dovetails with the Super Falcons’ own sweep of the CAF Women’s National Team of the Year award, underscoring Nigeria’s stranglehold on the women’s game amid Morocco’s double with Achraf Hakimi and Ghizlane Chebbak taking the men’s and women’s player honors.

As Nnadozie eyes the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers—where her heroics could anchor another deep run—the hat-trick isn’t just a personal milestone; it’s a beacon for African goalkeeping excellence, proving that between the posts, the future is firmly in safe hands.