VON Apologises Over False Report on Nigeria-Morocco WAFCON Final, Redeploys Reporter and Launches Reforms

The Voice of Nigeria (VON) has issued a public apology following the publication of a false and premature report which incorrectly stated that Nigeria’s Super Falcons had lost the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final against Morocco, A match the Nigerian team eventually won in a dramatic comeback.

The erroneous article, published on VON’s website on the night of Saturday, July 26, was swiftly removed, but not before it caused widespread confusion and disappointment among Nigerians and international football enthusiasts. In an extensive statement issued on Sunday, the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of VON, Mallam Jibrin Baba Ndace, described the publication as “inaccurate and deeply unfortunate,” while offering a sincere apology to Nigerians and the global audience.

The Super Falcons, in a thrilling final played in Rabat, Morocco, had rallied from behind to secure a 3–2 victory over the host nation — a result that marked Nigeria’s tenth WAFCON title, further consolidating their dominance in African women’s football. However, while the match was still ongoing, VON mistakenly published a report suggesting that Nigeria had lost the final.

“The erroneous report, which prematurely and falsely announced a Nigerian loss before the conclusion of the match, was both inaccurate and deeply unfortunate,” Mallam Ndace acknowledged. “Voice of Nigeria aligns with this historic moment, as our Super Falcons mounted a courageous comeback… affirming their place at the pinnacle of African women’s football.”

While the initial investigation traced the error to an internal editorial lapse, the VON leadership said they are also looking into the possibility of a security breach, including the prospect that hackers might have compromised their system.

“We are also investigating the possibility of a security breach or identity theft through hacking, which may have contributed to this disturbing development,” the statement said. “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 emphasized that editorial integrity remains a top priority and pledged to introduce stricter controls to prevent such lapses in the future.

In response to the incident, VON has launched a set of internal reforms aimed at strengthening editorial oversight and safeguarding public trust. Among the measures announced are the creation of new structures including an Investigative Desk, a Fact-Checking Unit, and a Monitoring and Evaluation Team. These units are expected to improve content accuracy, enhance editorial responsiveness, and ensure that such lapses do not recur.

Additionally, as part of staff reorganization, strategic redeployments have been implemented including the reassignment of the sports reporter originally linked to the controversial story. However, the VON management was quick to clarify that it was not assigning sole blame to any individual.

“It is important to clarify that while internal editorial processes are being reviewed and strengthened, we are not placing sole responsibility on any individual staff member,” the statement read. “Rather, this episode underscores the need for comprehensive institutional safeguards.”

The DG reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to its foundational principles  People, Platform, and Partnership and called on Nigerians to continue holding the institution accountable.

“These reforms reflect our broader commitment to repositioning VON as a more responsive, transparent, and globally respected media institution,” Mallam Ndace said. “We remain steadfast in our dedication… and we are deeply thankful for your engagement. Your voices remind us that accountability is not a burden; it is a cornerstone of public service.”

In conclusion, he thanked the public for their understanding and support, promising that the organisation would emerge stronger from the episode.

Voice of Nigeria is Nigeria’s official international broadcasting service, mandated to project the country’s image and policy objectives globally. Its misstep during such a critical national sporting moment sparked public outcry, underscoring the high expectations placed on national media platforms.

With these reforms and its open acknowledgment of failure, VON hopes to begin restoring public confidence in its credibility and professionalism.