Category Nigeria News

Senegal’s football authorities said they will appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport after the country was stripped of the Africa Cup of Nations title on Tuesday.

“The Senegalese Football Federation condemns this unjust, unprecedented and unacceptable decision, which brings African football into disrepute,” it said in a statement.

“To defend its rights and the interests of Senegalese football, the federation will, as soon as possible, file an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne.”

READ ALSO: CAF Strips Senegal Of 2025 AFCON Title, Crowns Morocco Champions

Several Senegalese players controversially walked off the pitch in Rabat during the final on January 18 in protest when the hosts were awarded a penalty late in second-half stoppage time.

After Senegal’s players eventually returned having been coaxed back onto the pitch by captain Sadio Mane, Morocco missed the penalty and Pape Gueye went on to score the goal in extra time that gave his team a 1-0 victory.

CAF said that having studied Morocco’s appeal, “the Senegal national team is declared to have forfeited the match” and the result was “officially recorded as 3-0” in favour of Morocco.

The CAF Appeals Committee justified its decision by applying Articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON Regulations, which state that if a team “refuses to play or leaves the ground before the regular end of the match without the authorisation of the referee, it shall be considered (loser) and shall be eliminated for good from the current competition”.

The articles add that the team contravening the regulations “will lose its match by 3-0”.

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) said in a statement its appeal “was never intended to contest the sporting performance of the teams participating in this competition, but solely to request the application of the competition regulations”.

“The Federation reaffirms its commitment to respecting the rules, to the clarity of the competitive framework, and to the stability of African competitions,” the statement added.

Senegal’s football authorities said they will appeal “as soon as possible” to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

“The Senegalese Football Federation condemns this unjust, unprecedented and unacceptable decision, which brings African football into disrepute,” it said in a statement.

 Chaotic scenes

Minutes before the end of the match, some Senegalese supporters attempted a pitch invasion, while Senegal’s players halted the game for nearly 20 minutes to protest the late penalty awarded to Morocco.

The controversial spot-kick was awarded by Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala right at the end of the allotted eight added minutes in normal time following a VAR check for a challenge on Brahim Diaz by El Hadji Malick Diouf.

The game was goalless at the time and Diaz could have won the trophy for Morocco with the spot-kick in the 24th minute of added time at the end of normal time.

But Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy easily saved the weak attempted ‘Panenka’ chip by the Real Madrid winger, who was clearly distracted by the long delay that followed the penalty award.

The game at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium then went to extra time, and Gueye’s brilliant 94th-minute strike won it for Senegal.

Several of the team’s players posted on social media after the announcement that they had been stripped of the title.

Defender Moussa Niakhate, who plays for French club Lyon, posted a picture of himself lifting the Africa Cup of Nations trophy with a message that said “they’re mad”, in an apparent reference to CAF.

In the immediate aftermath of the final, FIFA president Gianni Infantino had condemned “some Senegal players” for the “unacceptable scenes”.

“It is unacceptable to leave the field of play in this manner, and equally, violence cannot be tolerated in our sport, it is simply not right,” Infantino, who attended the match, said.

In late January, CAF imposed a series of disciplinary sanctions, including fines amounting to several hundred thousand euros, on the federations of both countries for unsportsmanlike conduct and violations of fair play principles.

The appeal trial of 18 Senegalese supporters, imprisoned since the final and sentenced to prison terms ranging from three months to one year for “hooliganism,” which was scheduled to take place on Monday, has been postponed until March 30.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has stripped Senegal of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title they won in January and declared Morocco champions.

Several Senegalese players had temporarily left the pitch late in the match in protest at a refereeing decision.

CAF in a statement on Tuesday said “the Senegal national team is declared to have forfeited the match,” a 1-0 victory in the final, “with the result being officially recorded as 3-0” in favour of Morocco.

The Benin Traditional Council has directed TikToker star and social media influencer Habeeb Adelaja, popularly known as “Peller”, to appear before the relevant authorities over his unauthorised access to the Oba’s Palace on March 6 and the subsequent conduct that caused public embarrassment.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the Council confirmed that Peller entered the palace without prior permission, prompting a formal investigation.

According to the Council, he has so far failed to comply with a previous directive to present himself before the investigative committee.

“The Council is therefore using this public medium to demand that Mr Adelaja present himself immediately to the relevant authorities within the Council.

“His unapproved visit has caused untold distress to so many people, and as such, he must tender an unreserved written apology to the Palace for his unauthorised access and the embarrassment caused,” the statement read.

Highlighting the seriousness of the incident, the Council added, “The Palace is not a public thoroughfare or a location for frivolous content creation; it is the ancient and spiritual seat of the Oba of Benin, governed by centuries of tradition, custom, and sacred protocols.”

READ ALSO: Police Arrest TikToker Peller For Attempted Suicide

The council warned that failure to comply with the directive could result in legal action.

It also revealed that the incident had significant repercussions within the palace: a chief was suspended indefinitely, a staff member was detained and charged, and a queen faces disciplinary action, including possible removal.

“The Benin Traditional Council assures the public and the entire Benin nation that it remains the unwavering custodian of our age-old customs and traditions.

“While unscrupulous elements may occasionally attempt to undermine our sacred institutions, banking on the fatherly and forgiving disposition of His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, CFR, they do so at their peril. The Council possesses the institutional tools to immediately correct such infractions and prevent any reoccurrence,” the statement added.

In response to the breach, the Council is tightening security at the Oba’s Palace. Written approval is now required for all visits, with restricted areas off-limits to unauthorised personnel.

“All visitors must be escorted to their designated destinations by a Palace or Council official. Areas designated as RESTRICTED TO UNAUTHORISED PERSONNEL are no-go areas,” the Council said.

“Any person found within the Palace grounds without a valid access pass will be regarded as being there without authorisation and will be promptly handed to the nearest security agency. Loitering or unauthorised access will result in legal consequences as deemed appropriate by the law and the Council.”

The incident occurred during Peller’s 2026 Nationwide State Tour, which aims to cover over a dozen cities, including Port Harcourt, Abuja, and Lagos. The visit to Benin City was intended as a tour kickoff, featuring meet-and-greets and local content creation.

The controversial video of the palace visit, filmed earlier in March, drew criticism for several breaches of protocol:

Peller met a palace queen, who reportedly requested he follow her back on social media and presented gifts. He greeted a palace chief using the Yoruba term “Kabiyesi”, which is not appropriate in the Benin Kingdom.

The TikToker also made jokes during the visit, including asking palace officials to “hold the rain” from falling. He also led a large crowd into palace grounds, which the Council described as a “breach of the peace.”

Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has accused the President Bola Tinubu-led administration of failing to protect the lives and property of Nigerians.

In a statement released on Tuesday by his media office, Amaechi condemned the Monday night bombing in Maiduguri, Borno State, describing the Tinubu-led government as “abysmally incompetent” and lacking the basic leadership skills required to safeguard citizens.

Commiserating with the families of the victims, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain said Nigerians cannot continue to mourn while the government “lives lavishly and ostentatiously” without taking decisive action to end the country’s insecurity.

“This government is killing Nigerians. I repeat, President Tinubu’s government is killing Nigerians, literally destroying lives. He has failed in the most sacred duty of protecting the lives of the citizens of this country.

“The Monday bombings in Maiduguri is not just a tragedy, it is a damning indictment of a leadership that has grown complacent, incompetent, and indifferent to the sufferings and death of Nigerians to ravaging bandits,” he stated.

READ ALSO: Tinubu’s UK State Visit ‘An Opportunity That Can’t Be Missed’ – Minister

Amaechi lamented that the government is ignoring the suffering of Nigerians and failing to take serious action to stop the growing insecurity.

“While families mourn and communities live in fear, those in power issue hollow statements and make empty promises. In fact now, they don’t bother to make promises anymore. They just move on as if nothing happened. Tinubu would rather be dining and partying in London while Nigeria burns. They just don’t care!

“How many more lives must be lost before they admit their failure? How many more communities must be shattered and destroyed before they take decisive action? Insecurity has become the daily reality of ordinary citizens, and yet the government continues to stumble, unprepared and unwilling to confront the menace with the seriousness it demands.”

He added that, “Nigerians deserve safety, peace, and dignity, not negligence and continued excuses. If those in power cannot guarantee that, then they have no business clinging to authority. Leadership is not about rhetoric, it is about responsibility, action, and making the right decisions for the good of the people. Right now, this government has abandoned that responsibility, and the nation is paying the price.”

He also empathised with the people of Borno State and the victims’ families, whose lives he said were “shattered because of Tinubu’s government failure to protect them,” adding that “enough is enough” and calling for “the President to resign.”

Maiduguri Blast

On Monday evening, Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, was rocked by multiple suspected suicide bombings that killed at least 23 people and injured 108 others.

The explosions occurred around 7:20 PM local time, shortly after residents had broken their Ramadan fast, a period when many people were gathered in public spaces.

The attacks struck several high-traffic areas, including the Monday Market (El-Kanemi) roundabout, the Post Office Flyover, and the entrance of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), with reports of a fourth blast in the Kaleri neighbourhood.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has refuted claims that it sought a fresh extension of the detention of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, during court proceedings in Abuja on Tuesday.

In a statement issued by its Head of Media and Public Communication, John Odey, the Commission said reports suggesting it applied for an extension of El-Rufai’s remand on Tuesday were inaccurate.

According to the ICPC, its appearance in court was solely in response to an application filed by El-Rufai on March 6, 2026, seeking to overturn the remand order earlier granted by the court.

“The Commission appeared in court today for the hearing of Mallam El-Rufai’s application… which seeks to overturn the court order renewing his remand issued on 5th March 2026,” the statement read.

The Commission added that during the proceedings, El-Rufai’s counsel was served with its response to the application.

READ ALSO: Fair Hearing Breach: Appeal Court Voids Judgment Against El-Rufai

His legal team subsequently requested an adjournment to allow time to study the response.

“Consequently, the Magistrate adjourned the hearing of the application to 31st March 2026 to allow Mr El-Rufai’s team sufficient time to react to our response,” the ICPC stated.

Providing a timeline of events, the Commission explained that the initial remand order granted it 14 days to investigate allegations of money laundering and abuse of office.

Upon its expiration, the court approved a further 14-day extension on 5 March 2026.

It also noted that an earlier attempt by El-Rufai’s counsel to set aside the remand order issued on February 19, 2026, was dismissed on March 9, 2026.

The ICPC maintained that the former governor remains in ‘lawful custody’ under the subsisting remand order dated March 5, 2026, stressing that it is adhering strictly to court-approved timelines and procedures.

“The ICPC conducts its duties with the highest professionalism and respect for the rule of law. The remand of Mr El-Rufai has been authorised by a court of law in accordance with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015,” the statement added.

The anti-corruption agency further reiterated its policy against what it described as media trials, urging the public to rely on verified updates from official sources.

Meanwhile, El-Rufai has been in ICPC custody since February 18, 2026, following his transfer from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The former governor is also facing separate legal challenges. The Department of State Services (DSS) has charged him with cybercrime, with a court hearing set for April 23, 2026.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed all political appointees in his administration who intend to contest elective positions in the 2027 elections to resign from their posts on or before March 31.

The directive was announced on Tuesday by Dewan Goshit, Head of Information and Public Relations at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).

Goshit explained that the president’s decision aligns with Section 88(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 and the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for party primaries ahead of the 2027 polls.

The order applies to all categories of presidential political appointees planning to participate in party primaries or seek nomination for elective positions.

READ ALSO: Tinubu’s UK State Visit ‘An Opportunity That Can’t Be Missed’ – Minister

Those affected include ministers, ministers of state, special advisers, senior special assistants, special assistants, personal assistants, as well as directors-general and chief executive officers of federal agencies, commissions, parastatals, and government-owned companies.

According to Goshit, the officials are required to submit their resignation letters through the office of the SGF by the stipulated deadline.

“President Tinubu emphasised that the measure is necessary to ensure full compliance with electoral laws, uphold transparency in the political process, and promote a level playing field for all aspirants ahead of the elections,” the statement reads in part.