Voice of Nigeria (VON) has apologised to Nigerians and football fans across the globe following the publication of a false report claiming that Morocco defeated Nigeria to win the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title.
The controversial report, published on the evening of Saturday, erroneously stated that Morocco had won the tournament after a 2-0 victory over Nigeria, while the match was still ongoing.
In reality, the Super Falcons staged a stunning comeback to defeat hosts Morocco 3-2 and clinch a record-extending 10th WAFCON title.
Reacting to the backlash that followed the gaffe, the director general of VON, Jibrin Ndace, in a statement on Sunday, described the incident as “regrettable” and assured the public that the agency was investigating the matter thoroughly.
He said the false report was due to “an internal lapse” but added that the organisation is also probing the possibility of a cyberattack or identity theft through hacking.
“The erroneous report, which prematurely and falsely announced a Nigerian loss before the conclusion of the match, was both inaccurate and deeply unfortunate,” the statement read.
“As a public institution, we cannot rule out such cyber threats and are taking appropriate steps to enhance the security of our digital platforms.”
VON said it has initiated internal reforms, including the creation of an investigative desk, a fact-checking unit and a monitoring and evaluation team.
The agency has also carried out strategic staff redeployments to improve editorial accountability.
While distancing the incident from any single staff member, VON said it is reviewing editorial processes to ensure such errors never occur again.
The agency thanked Nigerians for their feedback and support, saying, “Accountability is not a burden, it is a cornerstone of public service.”
