On-fire Lionel Messi on Saturday became Inter Miami’s all-time leading scorer after scoring his second hat-trick of the week as the US-based club beat the New England Revolution 6-2.

With the hat trick, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner took his tally for the club to 33 goals.

Miami’s win, in their final game of the regular season, took them to 74 points – one more than the previous record, set by New England in 2021.

Messi, who came off the bench in the 58th minute and led the late flurry of goals, has now scored 20 goals in 19 appearances in MLS with his former Barcelona team-mate Suarez also notching 20, from 27 games.

The challenge of breaking the record added some spice to the final game of the regular season with Inter having already secured the Supporters’ Shield for the best record in the regular season to stamp themselves clear favourites in the MLS Cup playoffs which start next week.

Miami had trailed 2-0 before Suarez scored twice before half-time to send Gerardo Martino’s team in level at the interval.

Goals from Argentine Luca Langoni and Colombian Dylan Borrero in the 34th minute had the home crowd chanting for Messi’s introduction from the bench but it was Uruguayan Suarez who began the comeback.

A firm left-foot finish from the former Liverpool and Barcelona striker, pulled one back, after good work from David Martinez.

Then Suarez levelled with a fine solo finish, making space for himself and switching to his right foot before drilling home.

Messi, who had scored a hat-trick for Argentina against Bolivia on Tuesday, came off the bench in the 58th minute and immediately helped put the team ahead finding Jordi Alba who set up Benjamin Cremaschi for a tap-in.

New England thought they had drawn level with a goal from striker Bobby Wood but the effort was disallowed for handball following a VAR review.

Messi then made it 4-2, collecting a back-heeled pass from Suarez before brilliantly blasting into the far bottom corner.

The Argentine was on target again when he latched on to a superb pass from Jordi Alba and made no mistake and then he completed his hat-trick in the 89th minute when he met a volleyed cross from Suarez with a precise first time finish.

Messi’s three goals came within an 11-minute spell and after his two month injury absence after the Copa America he now looks back to his best.

– ‘ideal situation’ –

“I have the feeling that we have him in an ideal situation to face the most important part of the year,” said Martino.

At the post-game celebration of the Supporters Shield success, club co-owners David Beckham and Jorge Mas were joined by FIFA president Gianni Infantino who announced that the Shield had earned the team a place in the 2025 Club World Cup.

Elsewhere in the last round of the regular season in MLS, Montreal clinched a place in the playoffs with a 2-0 win over New York City.

The victory secured eighth place in the Eastern Conference and the Canadian side will play ninth-placed Atlanta United in the wildcard round on Tuesday for a chance to play Miami in the first round.

Atlanta took the final spot in the East with a 2-1 win at Orlando City.

There was a thrilling finale to the regular season in the Western Conference with the two Los Angeles clubs locked in battle for top spot and home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

LAFC left the field thinking their 3-1 win over San Jose was enough to have secured the top seed with LA Galaxy losing 1-0 to Houston.

But a stoppage time penalty, converted by Gabriel Pec, looked to have secured LA Galaxy the point they needed to secure first place and left LAFC fans, in California, watching on their phones desolate.

But then in the 11th minute of stoppage time, Houston grabbed a dramatic winner with a header from Daniel Steres against his former club, meaning that LAFC snatched top seed on goal difference – by a single goal.

LAFC will face the winner of the wildcard game between the Vancouver Whitecaps and the Portland Timbers while the Galaxy will host the Colorado Rapids in the first round.

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu and his government “to stop the ‘weaponization’ of the country’s security agencies to target Nigerians simply for the peaceful exercise of their human rights, and to direct the Department of State Services (DSS) to immediately withdraw the baseless defamation lawsuit by their proxies against our organization and management staff.”

Two named DSS officials last week filed a defamation lawsuit against SERAP, following allegations by the organization regarding the recent invasion of its Abuja office by some officials of the security agency.

In the open letter dated 19 October 2024 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “We are seriously concerned that your government seems to be weaponizing the DSS and misusing defamation laws as a tool of repression and to target those who defend human rights.”

SERAP said, “Rather than addressing the allegations of widespread corruption in the oil sector and the worsening economic situation in the country, and reducing the cost of governance, your government is targeting those who campaign for actions in these areas.”

The letter, read in part: “We would be grateful if the recommended measures are immediately taken following the receipt and/or publication of this letter.”

“If the lawsuit is not immediately withdrawn, we will be prepared to defend our organization and management staff in court, and to join your government and DSS in the lawsuit. This may include calling witnesses to ensure justice, end impunity for rights abuses, and achieve legitimate public interests in this matter.”

“We have since 2004 pursued several public interest cases against the governments of former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari. This is the first time any government will weaponize the country’s security agencies to intimidate and target our organization.”

“The defamation lawsuit is brought by two named DSS officials but their names are unknown to our organization. The lawsuit by these officials is apparently instigated and sponsored by the DSS under your watch.”

“It is critical for human rights defenders, activists, journalists and other citizens to be able to organize and freely exercise their human rights without the threat of baseless lawsuits by your government or its security agencies and/or their proxies.”

“Weaponizing the security agencies to intimidate, harass and silence human rights defenders, activists, journalists and other civil society actors will weaken representative democracy, deepen impunity and undermine the rule of law.”

“Rather misusing the security agencies to crackdown on human rights defenders, activists, journalists and other civil society actors, your government ought to take steps to thoroughly, independently, impartially, transparently and effectively investigate the allegations raised by SERAP.”

“We are disappointed that your government has so far failed to respond to our recommendations calling on you to direct the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to immediately reverse the apparently illegal and unconstitutional increase in the pump price of petrol across its retail outlets.”

“Your government has also failed to probe the allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the NNPC, including the spending of the reported $300 million ‘bailout funds’ collected from the Federal Government in August 2024, and the $6 billion debt it owes suppliers, despite allegedly failing to remit oil revenues to the treasury and to prosecute suspected perpetrators.”

“Your government also continues to refuse to obey several court judgments obtained by SERAP, including those which ordered the Federal Government to disclose the details of the agreement with X, formerly Twitter, to assess whether the agreement complies with the exercise of Nigerians’ human rights online and to account for payments of N729 billion to 24.3 million poor Nigerians for six months.”

“SERAP had on 9 September 2024 also called on you and your government to direct the DSS to end the intimidation and harassment of our organization and our staff members.”

“Our call followed the invasion of our Abuja office by some officials of the DSS. SERAP was subsequently served with a defamation lawsuit with number CV/4547/24.”

“The country under your government has witnessed an escalating crackdown on human rights, particularly the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, association and media freedom, as well as socio-economic rights.”

“The judicial harassment of those who peacefully defend human rights is entirely inconsistent and incompatible with the letter and spirit of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] and the country’s international human rights obligations.”

“Under your government, human rights defenders, activists, journalists and other civil society actors such as the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) continue to face harassment, intimidation, and arbitrary detention simply for carrying out their legitimate work.”

“The judicial harassment of SERAP by your government and its agencies shows hostility towards civil society actors defending the rights of other citizens, criticizing human rights violations, and challenging a culture of impunity for perpetrators.”

“SERAP therefore urges your government to end the intimidation, harassment and threats against our organization and management staff and other human rights defenders, activists as well as journalists and other civil society actors, including intimidation, through baseless legal processes.”

“SERAP strives to ensure that our human rights and anticorruption work meet the highest standards of analytical rigor devoid of politics. Our work is driven solely by the fundamental principles of justice, impartiality, solidarity and universality of human rights. SERAP believes that no government is beyond scrutiny and accountability.”

“SERAP’s non-partisan work in the field of human rights and anticorruption has been widely recognized nationally and internationally. Our organization received the Wole Soyinka Anti-Corruption Defender Award in 2014, and was nominated for the UN Civil Society Award and Ford Foundation’s Jubilee Transparency Award. SERAP was also nominated for the 2024 Columbia Global Freedom of Expression Prizes.”

“Our organization’s calls on your government regarding the persistent increases in fuel prices and allegations of corruption in the NNPC are based on the constitutional and international responsibilities of your government to Nigerians who are victims of corruption, and your constitutional oath of office.”

“SERAP believes that it is through action like this that any government in a society governed by the rule of law can be motivated to live up to its commitments and to meet the expectations of its citizens for good governance, human rights and the rule of law.”

“SERAP urges your government to embrace the rule of law and this will in turn entail respect for the human rights of Nigerians. Where there is a culture of rule of law, there is likely to be less corruption.”

“Without embracing the rule of law, your government is unlikely to achieve your oft-repeated economic and development programmes since the rule of law is the foundation of any civilised society.”

•I am old enough to speak for myself

•Says Oyo opted to be different in 2019

•’I have no godfather, lost two Senate bids’

•Warns against one-party state

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has declared that he is qualified and old enough to speak for himself on any issue without mincing words.

Makinde was reacting to speculations that he was plotting to challenge President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
According to him, speculations about his political future were unsolicited.

He warned Nigerians of the dangers inherent in allowing Nigeria to slide into a one-party state.

The governor, who spoke to reporters in Fashola Farm, Oyo, yesterday, explained that he would do so publicly if he had anything to say about his political future.

He said, “ We didn’t do this (host PDP reporters’ retreat) because somebody has presidential ambition. No comment, nothing. But all I can say to you is, I’m old enough if I want to do something, I will come out and say this is what I want to do.

“So, no speculation, nobody can push my agenda. I will push my agenda when the time comes.”
Makinde recalled that with the support of the people of Oyo, he defied the odds, including two failed Senate attempts, before he was elected governor.

The governor said, “Oyo State people took a decision in 2019. We did not have a godfather. Nobody sponsored me, nobody gave me a dime for us to get in here but the people of Oyo State decided, we want to give this opportunity to an outsider.

“And before that, you will see videos saying that, ‘Oh, Seyi, what has he done before? Has he been a councillor? No. Has he been to the House of Representatives? No. What about the Senate?’ I tried twice but was rejected.

“So, experience in politics – no experience in governance, but I’ve done well for myself in business and they said ‘we’ll give you the opportunity’ and before that time, the whole of the South West was APC, all six states.

“But in Oyo State, we chose to be different. Because I had no experience, I wanted to convince the people.

“We produced a document, ‘Road Map to Accelerated Development of Oyo State, 2019-2023’, and I said to the people, ‘This is it in black and white, hold me accountable,, and they gave us the opportunity. Thank God it is being done. “

Makinde also cautioned Nigerians against allowing the nation to slide into a one-party state.
He said, “Nigeria must not slide into the one-party state so that others will have the opportunity to showcase their talents.”

Makinde reiterated his commitment to re-enacting the development strides recorded by great leaders who, with their innovative approach to governance, put the South West on the global map.

He recalled that farm settlements such as Fashola Farms were conceptualized and made
functional in the 1950s by Chief Obafemi Awolowo with cattle breeds and other livestock.

Revenue generated from the proceeds of cocoa, he said, was used to build Cocoa House which was the first skyscraper at the time.

He said, “If you go to Tel Aviv in Israel,. you will see the first one they built and many more have followed.”

Speaking on the legacy he desires to leave behind, Makinde said he would like to be remembered for building institutions that will guarantee good governance irrespective of whoever occupies the office of governor.

The Central Bank of Nigeria released $547.7m (N823.19bn at the official exchange rate of N1,503.3/$1, as of June 30, 2024) to Nigerians for the importation of food items in the second quarter of 2024.

The amount is a reduction of $142.48m or 20.6 per cent from $689.88m recorded in the first three months of 2024 and N80.76bn or 8.93 per cent from N903.95bn recorded in Q1 when converted to naira.

This implies that the CBN released a total of N1.73tn for food items importation in six months, according to data from the bank’s quarterly statistics bulletin.

An analysis of the reports on Friday showed that Nigerians spent $164.43m in January, $303.91m in February, and $221.54m in March.

The apex bank also allocated $153.27m in April, $197.21m in May, and $197.22m in June.

This came as it was established that the Federal Government’s plan to reduce the price of food commodities through the implementation of zero duty on selected basic food items is increasingly becoming difficult to achieve.

This challenge is underscored by the alarming increase in the average price of imported food items, which rose to 878.3 price point index in September 2024, reflecting broader economic pressures.

On July 8, 2024, the Federal Government announced a 150-day duty-free import window for food commodities to ensure a reduction in food inflation in Nigeria. The food commodities include maize, husked brown rice, wheat, and cowpeas.

It said the programme was meant to help cushion the effects of various factors contributing to food scarcity and price hikes in the country.

The idea was simple: remove or significantly reduce import duties and value-added tax to encourage an inflow of food imports and drive down consumer prices.

But three months after the government announced the plans, the scheme has failed to take off, majorly due to government bureaucratic process and the failure of the Federal Ministry of Finance to publish a list of importers qualified to participate in the process as required by the guidelines earlier issued by the customs in August.

At a press briefing early this month, the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, said the government had ordered maize and wheat imports to stabilise the food market.

The National Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Customs Service, Abdullahi Maiwada, couldn’t be reached when our correspondent called to confirm if the awaited item had been imported.

While the government is yet to begin implementation of the policy, the price of imported food has continued to increase.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics monthly inflation report, the new figure indicated a rise of 30.6 price index or 3.61 per cent from 847.7 in August 2024.

Further analysis showed that the average price of imported food has surged by 72.3 percentage points or 8.97 per cent from the 806.0 average price index in July 2024 when the policy was announced and 878.3 in September.

On a year-to-date, this increase is a surge of 185.7 price index points or 26.81 growth from 692.6 in January 2024, indicating more resilience on foreign food products amidst food supply shortages in the country.

A month-by-month analysis showed that in January, Nigeria recorded an imported inflation rate of 26.29 per cent. This increased to 29.81 per cent in February, marking a notable jump of 3.52 per cent in the inflation rate from January.

The trend continued in March, with the imported food inflation rate climbing to 32.89 per cent, an increase of 3.08 per cent from February.

In April, the inflation rate further increased to 34.01 per cent, growing by 1.12 per cent from March, showing a slight deceleration in the rate of increase.

May recorded an imported food inflation rate of 34.83 per cent, indicating a continued upward trend. The increase in the inflation rate is 0.82 per cent from April.

The figure was 806.0 in June, 826.2 in July, 847.7 in August, and 878.3 in September.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has stated that the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential flagbearer in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar, has lost relevance in politics.

PUNCH Online reports that Atiku, a former Vice President, had commended the resilient people of Rivers State for their steadfastness in the face of adversity, courageously ensuring that the election unfolded with peace and integrity.

In a statement on his X account, Atiku also lauded the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, for his unwavering commitment to the interests of the people, safeguarding the sanctity of the local government elections even amidst provocative challenges.

He had said, “With the conclusion of the local government election in Rivers State, the shadows of political intimidation and judicial chicanery have dissipated, paving the way for the noble pursuit of governance to commence in the state. 

“From the bustling heart of Port Harcourt to the tranquil shores of Onne, the populace has spoken in harmonious unison, affirming that nothing is greater than democracy.

“As prophesied, it has now been revealed that the citizens of Rivers are astute and resolute, unwavering in their rejection of any form of political oppression, harassment, or the machinations of self-serving godfathers.”

However, reacting to Atiku’s statement during a luncheon in honour of the 10th Rivers State Assembly on Saturday, Wike claimed that Atiku had lost elections so many times.

The former Rivers governor asserted that Atiku had been rejected by Nigerians, having contested the presidential elections in 2019 and 2023 and lost.

He said, “We never contested the local government elections. Did we contest? Did we pick forms? I hear Atiku Abubakar say, ‘Oh, they have rejected me in Rivers State.’ Okay, assuming, though not conceding, that he has lost many times, Nigerians have also rejected him.

“If you say for an election we did not contest, never participated in, that it shows Nigerians have rejected us, fine. You that contested and failed woefully, Nigerians have rejected you, so pack up and go home.”

The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman noted that the country has recorded a drop in the performance of female students in examination. 

Mamman gave the expression at the end of a technical and vocational education training camp for girls in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state capital.

Although he did not state the reason for the decrease in performance, however, the minister further noted that the camp would trigger female students’ interest in skills acquisition and entrepreneurship.

Mamman urged female students to show commitment to their studies.

According to him, the President Bola Tinubu-led administration was determined to produce students with both certificates and skills.

He also reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment towards providing knowledge and skill-based education for Nigerian youths.

According to him, implementing knowledge and skill-based education would promote rapid economic and industrial growth of the nation.

290 students drawn from 29 federal science technical colleges, participated in the two-week programme with the theme: “Painting for the Future”.

Addressing participants, Mamman said that the purpose of the camp was to stimulate innovative and creative abilities in female students, and to encourage healthy competition among them.

He commended the African Development Bank for partnering with the Federal Ministry of Education on the project.

In her remarks, the Commissioner for Education in Akwa Ibom, Idongesit Etiebet described the programme as timely and well-intended.

Etiebet urged the participants to take the lessons from the programme seriously, and to use it to add value to themselves in the interest of their future.

Budget allocations for food and catering supplies for the offices of the President, Vice-President, and State House headquarters rose by 20 per cent from 2022 to 2024.

Although the allocations remained static at N702.95m for 2022 and 2023, it grew to N845.07m in 2024.

While the office of the President allocated a total of N856.57m for the three years, about N650.84m was earmarked for the Vice President’s office for the period. Budget documents showed that the State House Headquarters also earmarked N743.55m for the three years.

On November 29, 2023, President Bola Tinubu presented the 2024 appropriations bill to a joint session of the 10th National Assembly in Abuja. 

On January 1, 2024, he signed a N28.7tn budget into law after the Senate’s approval. This was N1.2tn higher than the budget he proposed to the National Assembly.

The Senate had increased the budget by N1.2tn, moving the budget from N27.5tn to N28.7tn.

A breakdown of the budget for food and catering supplies showed that N245.14m was reserved for the State House administration, N301.14m for the office of the President and N156.66m for the office of the Vice President.

The allocation remained the same for 2023.

However, the 2024 budget allocated N253.27m for the State House headquarters, N254.27m for the President’s office and N337.52m for the office of the Vice President.

Checks by Sunday PUNCH on GovSpend, a civic tech platform that tracks and analyses Federal Government’s spendings, revealed that the State House administration disbursed approximately 566.22m on the supply of rice and other food items between March and September 2024.

It paid part of the money through its transit account and other amounts to three beneficiaries, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Retail Limited.

On March 1, the State House paid the sum of N275,633,850 to Samdan Global Construction and Resources Limited for the supply of 1,095 bags of 50kg rice and 4,095 cartons of seasoning cubes.

On the same day, it paid another N280,590,000 to Victor Adeks Nigeria Limited for the supply of an additional 3,000 bags of 50kg rice.

During his presentation on the 2023/2024 budget implementation on October 8, the Permanent Secretary of the State House, Mr Olufunso Adebiyi, said the State House had achieved 43 per cent implementation of capital projects for 2024 and an impressive 99 per cent implementation in overhead expenditure.

The permanent secretary welcomed an earlier increase in allocation to the State House in the 2024 appropriation, citing the considerable demand from various cost centres during the challenging fiscal year.

“This has gone a long way in enhancing our performance as an important arm of government, especially with regards to the welfare of staff and various capital projects such as the renovation of the residential quarters of the President, Aguda House, computerisation and digitalisation of the State House, construction of an office complex, replacement of operational vehicles, and others,” he said.

The chief accounting officer further presented the 2023 budget and supplementary budget performances.

He disclosed that N1.65bn was approved for personnel costs in 2023, of which N1.65bn was spent, leaving a balance of N439,433.66.

For overhead expenditure in 2023, N8.29bn was appropriated, and N8.27bn was expended, leaving an outstanding balance of N14.5m, marking a 99.82 per cent budget implementation.

Regarding total capital expenditure for 2023, Adebiyi said N11.2bn was approved, with N10.9bn spent, representing an overall performance of 98 per cent.

In an earlier interview with The PUNCH, the Chairman of the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, Debo Adeniran, said government spending should be regulated to reflect the dire economic situation of the country.

“We all know that, until now, there is so much profligacy in government. And until we have a new constitution that regulates government spending, we will still be battling with the problem,” he argued.

At the time of filing this report, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, was not reachable for comments.

However, in an earlier explainer, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Temitope Ajayi, argued that the allocations were not for the consumption of the President or his deputy alone.

Ajayi wrote, “When the State House makes provision for vehicles, it is reported that the President will use all the vehicles or eat all the food when a provision is made for food and catering services.

“A President and Vice President cannot, for any reason, spend N20m to eat in a year if it is about the food they will eat as first and second families. How much food can a person really eat?

“In actual fact, such budgetary provisions are made to accommodate many state events, meetings, hosting of VIPs, foreign dignitaries, and even visits by other Heads of State and bilateral and multilateral meetings that the State House will deal with in a given year.”

The Cross River State police command has apprehended six suspected Ambazonian rebels.

The Command disclosed on Saturday that it arrested the suspects after they invaded Akamkpa Local Government Area of the state.

Ambazonia is a political entity proclaimed by Anglophone separatists seeking independence from Cameroon.

Since 2017, Ambazonian rebels have engaged in armed conflict with the Cameroonian military in what is known as the Anglophone Crisis.

Speaking on the arrest, the command’s Spokesperson, Ewa Igri, said the suspects, whose age ranges between 18 and 36, were paraded with various weapons, improvised explosives devices, booths, charms and flags.

He revealed that the separatists were arrested following intelligence information, describing the feat as a breakthrough for the law enforcement agency.

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2024 election, Atiku Abubakar, has stated that he is preoccupied with issues affecting Nigerians.

Atiku, a former Vice President of Nigeria, accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and his collaborators of playing politics with the sufferings of Nigerians.

Atiku stated this in response to Wike, who had at an event in Rivers State, said having contested the presidential election in 2019 and 2023 as the PDP candidate and lost, Atiku has been rejected by Nigerians.

He said, “We never contested local government elections. Did we contest? Did we pick form? I hear Atiku Abubakar say, ‘Oh they have rejected me in Rivers State. Okay, assuming though not conceding, he had lost so many times, Nigerians have also rejected him.”

Reacting in a statement on Saturday, Atiku’s Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, noted that the former VP won’t descend into the gutters where the FCT Minister feels at home.

He stated that while Wike may seek to divert attention with his baseless rants, Nigerians must remain focused on the genuine issues affecting them.

Ibe said it is clear that Wike is more concerned with self-interest than addressing the real challenges faced by the nation.

The statement read: “Our attention has been drawn to the recent remarks made by Mr. Nyesom Wike, which can only be described as another of his theatrical outbursts. Ordinarily, we would not respond, but we recognize that silence might be misinterpreted.

“However, we remain calm, knowing that Nigerians are well acquainted with his antics, a lingering symptom of the bitterness he harbours from his defeat to the Wazirin Adamawa at the 2022 party presidential primaries.

“Mr. Wike’s comments are nothing more than a string of inanities, lacking substance and driven by personal grievances. If he truly believes Nigerians are content with the current state of affairs under the government he serves, it reveals a deeper truth: his priorities lie not with the people but with himself. This self-absorption is evident in his preoccupation with domestic affairs in Rivers rather than his ministerial responsibilities.

“While he may seek to divert attention with his baseless rants, we remain focused on the genuine issues affecting Nigerians. It is clear that Mr. Wike is more concerned with self-interest than addressing the real challenges faced by the nation. In contrast, our commitment remains unwavering, centred on the welfare and progress of the people.

“Mr. Wike appears to delight in conjuring fantasies, indulging in his imagination, and paying for live TV coverage to launch tirades against whomever he pleases. However, we shall not descend into the gutters where he feels at home. Instead, we prefer to rise above, maintaining our dignity while others revel in the mud.”

Nigeria have dispatched Ecuador in a Group A match at the FIFA U-17 World Cup to book their spot in the knockouts of the competition.

The Flamingos won the game 4-0. That victory sealed their spot in the next round of the competition having defeated New Zealand 1-4 in their first match of the tournament.

Nigeria scored once in the first half and had a hat-trick of goals upon resumption to win the game.

A brace from Shakirat Moshood – one in the 28th minute and the second in the 96th minute- saw Nigeria claim all three points in the match.

Harmony Chidi netted in the 54th minute while Peace Effiong scored in the 66 minute for the West Africans.