VON apologises for erroneous WAFCON report, unveils editorial reforms

Ndace

The Voice of Nigeria has issued a public apology over a false report published on its website during the final match of the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, in which the Super Falcons of Nigeria defeated Morocco 3–2 to clinch a record-extending tenth title.

The apology was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by the Director General/CEO of VON, Jibrin Ndace, who acknowledged the incident and outlined ongoing measures to address it.

VON, in a now-deleted news item, had earlier prematurely declared Morocco the winner of the WAFCON final match before its conclusion.

In reality, Nigeria’s Super Falcons pulled off a stunning second-half comeback to defeat the hosts 3–2 and clinch a record-extending tenth continental title.

Ndace described the premature and inaccurate report—announcing Nigeria’s loss before the game concluded—as both “erroneous” and “deeply unfortunate.”

“Dear Esteemed Nigerians and Friends of Voice of Nigeria, on behalf of the management and staff of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), I extend my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who reached out with concern, support, and constructive feedback following the regrettable publication on our website on the night of Saturday, 26th July 2025, regarding the WAFCON 2025 Final between Nigeria and Morocco.

“The erroneous report, which prematurely and falsely announced a Nigerian loss before the conclusion of the match, was both inaccurate and deeply unfortunate. Voice of Nigeria aligns with this historic moment, as our Super Falcons mounted a courageous comeback to defeat hosts Morocco 3–2, securing a record-extending tenth WAFCON title and affirming their place at the pinnacle of African women’s football”, the statement partly read.

Acknowledging the confusion caused by the publication, VON expressed regret and hinted at the possibility of a cyber breach as part of the problem.