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State-run
broadcaster blames editorial lapse and cyber threats as backlash mounts after
viral WAFCON misreporting
Zig Diaries Sports
Date: Sunday, 27 July 2025
Time: 15:09 WAT
Location: 📍Abuja, Nigeria
News Peg: Voice of Nigeria apologises for publishing false WAFCON
final result during live match.
Voice of
Nigeria (VON) has tendered a formal apology after a false report on its
platform erroneously declared Nigeria’s Super Falcons had lost the WAFCON 2025
final — before the match had ended.
The
publication, which appeared late Saturday night during the live broadcast of
the final between Nigeria and Morocco, sparked outrage and disbelief after it
wrongly claimed that the Falcons had been defeated. In reality, Nigeria staged
a dramatic 3–2 comeback to win a record 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations
(WAFCON) title.
The error,
which quickly went viral on social media, drew sharp criticism of VON’s
editorial standards and internal control mechanisms. Many Nigerians expressed
dismay over what they described as "a national embarrassment" by the
country's international broadcaster.
Director
General of Voice of Nigeria, Mallam Jibrin Baba Ndace, described the incident
as “deeply unfortunate” in a public statement. He confirmed that internal
investigations are underway to determine whether the gaffe stemmed from an
editorial lapse or external interference.
“As a public
institution, we cannot rule out such cyber threats,” said the Director General,
referring to a possible cyberattack or identity theft. He also announced
measures to strengthen digital platform security.
In a bid to
restore credibility, VON has launched sweeping internal reforms, including the
establishment of an Investigative Desk, a Fact-Checking Unit, and a Monitoring
and Evaluation Team. It also disclosed plans to redeploy key editorial staff to
improve accountability and editorial checks.
While the
sports reporter associated with the false article has not been held solely
responsible, the agency said the incident highlighted deeper systemic issues.
“Accountability is not a burden—it is a cornerstone of public service,” Ndace
said.
Voice of Nigeria, which serves as the nation’s international broadcast voice, stated it is committed to rebuilding public trust and ensuring more professional, accurate, and reliable journalism.
🏷️ Tags: Voice of Nigeria, media ethics, WAFCON 2025, Super Falcons, misinformation, Nigeria
#WAFCON2025 #SuperFalcons #VON #MediaEthics #NigeriaMedia #FactChecking #PublicAccountability #WomenInFootball
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