The Super Falcons’ star goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie, has been named the CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year for 2024, marking her second consecutive win.
The award was presented during the CAF Awards ceremony held in Marrakech, Morocco. Nnadozie, who also plays for Paris FC in France, outshone tough competition from Morocco’s Sanaa Mssoudy and Zambia’s Babra Banda to claim the prestigious honor.
Renowned for her outstanding performances both with Nigeria’s national team and her club, Nnadozie has continued to set the standard in women’s football with her exceptional skills and consistency.
In her acceptance speech, the talented shot-stopper expressed her gratitude, dedicating the award to her coaches and teammates from both the Super Falcons and Paris FC.
Nnadozie’s triumph serves as a testament to her hard work and dedication, solidifying her place as one of the finest goalkeepers in women’s football today.
Ademola Lookman, the newly crowned African Player of the Year, has described being recognized as the continent’s best player as an “incredible” honor. The Super Eagles and Atalanta forward shared his emotions during his acceptance speech at the prestigious CAF Awards ceremony held in Marrakech, Morocco, on Monday.
“This award today is a blessing to me, to my family, to my nation, and to be recognised as the best player in Africa is something incredible, and I am extremely proud of,” Lookman said.
Reflecting on his journey, Lookman, now 27, offered words of encouragement to young people, drawing from his own struggles as a footballer four years ago. He urged them not to let setbacks define their future.
“Just over four years ago, I failed in front of the world. Fast forward to four years later, I am the best player in Africa,” he recounted. “I want to say to the young children and young people watching this: ‘Don’t let your failures weigh you down to the point they break your wings. Turn your pain into power, continue to fight, and continue to fly. God bless!’”
Lookman’s remarkable achievement came after he triumphed over fierce competition from South Africa’s Ronwen Williams, Côte d’Ivoire’s Simon Adingra, Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, and Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy to clinch the coveted award.
The Nigerian forward played a pivotal role in Atalanta’s historic triumph last season, helping the Italian club secure its first-ever European trophy. His standout performance included a hat-trick in the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen.
On the international stage, Lookman was equally influential, leading the Super Eagles to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) earlier this year in Côte d’Ivoire.
Ademola Lookman’s story is a testament to perseverance and determination, inspiring millions across the continent and beyond.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested 792 suspects involved in cryptocurrency investment fraud and romance scams. The operation, carried out on December 10, 2024, took place at a seven-storey building known as Big Leaf Building on Oyin Jolayemi Street in Victoria Island, Lagos.
EFCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwujaren, explained that the arrests followed months of surveillance based on actionable intelligence. Among those arrested were 193 foreigners, including 148 Chinese nationals, 40 Filipinos, two Kharzartans, and others from Pakistan and Indonesia.
The foreign suspects were found using the building, which resembled a corporate office, to train their Nigerian accomplices on how to carry out romance and investment scams. The operation discovered that the building contained high-end computers and, on one floor alone, 500 SIM cards purchased for criminal activities.
EFCC Arrests 792 Suspects, Including 193 Foreigners, for Alleged Crypto Fraud
The scammers would recruit Nigerian accomplices proficient in computer skills, particularly typing, to engage in phishing schemes targeting victims, mainly from the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Europe. They would be trained to create fake profiles and engage victims in romantic chats and fake investment opportunities, directing them to a bogus online investment platform, Yooto.com. Those who showed interest were asked to pay an activation fee to join the platform.
The Nigerian recruits, who were unaware of the true identity of their employers, were paid in cash or through personal accounts rather than corporate accounts. After gaining the victims' trust, the foreign criminals would take over the scam, cutting off the Nigerian accomplices from the operations.
EFCC is continuing its investigation, working with international partners to determine the extent of the fraud and possible links to larger international crime rings. Items recovered from the suspects included computers, mobile phones, laptops, and cars. The suspects have made statements, and further legal proceedings are underway.
The EFCC emphasized that while Nigerians are often wrongly blamed for fraud, foreigners are exploiting Nigeria’s reputation to operate their scams. The commission assured that there would be no safe haven for criminals in Nigeria.
The Federal Government has announced free train rides for Nigerians during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, shared the update on Monday while briefing journalists on the outcome of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.
The free train services will run from December 20, 2024, to January 5, 2025, covering all routes where train operations are currently available. This initiative aims to ease travel for Nigerians during the festive period.
