CAF appointed a new referee for Nigeria’s AFCON 2025 quarter-final as Coach Eric Chelle expressed confidence ahead of the Algeria clash. Trump warned of potential U.S. airstrikes if violence in Nigeria persists, At home the 2026 budget allocates ₦1.7 trillion to settle contractor debts, while the Presidential Fiscal Committee defends the new tax laws. Abroad, Venezuela released political detainees, including prominent activists, drawing global attention. A day of bold decisions on sports, politics, and diplomacy.
AFCON 2025: CAF appoints new referee for Nigeria vs Algeria clash
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed Senegalese referee Issa Sy to officiate the quarter-final showdown between Nigeria’s Super Eagles and Algeria’s Desert Foxes at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), following the withdrawal of the initially designated official over a sponsorship breach.
In a statement, CAF said the decision was taken to ensure strict compliance with tournament regulations ahead of the high-stakes encounter scheduled for the Grand Stade de Marrakech. Sy steps in after Somali referee Omar Artan, Africa’s Best Referee for 2025, was removed from the fixture for reportedly violating CAF’s sponsorship rules.
Artan was earlier named to take charge of the match but was withdrawn after an incident in which he allegedly wore boots from a brand not approved by the tournament’s official sponsors during a previous game. CAF said it acted swiftly to preserve the integrity of the competition and uphold its commercial and regulatory standards.
Sy is no stranger to the tournament, having previously served as the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) during Morocco’s Round of 16 clash with Tanzania. His appointment is expected to reassure both teams as tensions rise ahead of one of the tournament’s most anticipated quarter-final ties.
He will be assisted by Djibril Camara and Nouha Bangoura as assistant referees, while Gilbert Kipkoech Cheruiyot and Peter Kamaku will serve in additional officiating capacities, including fourth official duties.
The VAR team will include Pierre Atcho, Stephen Yiembe, Letticia Viana, and Yahya Hadqa, providing technological support for critical decisions in a match that could shape the path to the AFCON title.
Trump warns of further airstrikes in Nigeria over alleged killings of Christians
United States President Donald Trump has warned that Washington could launch further airstrikes in Nigeria if what he described as the continued killing of Christians persists, signalling a hardening of his administration’s stance on religious violence in Africa’s most populous nation.
Trump issued the warning in an interview with The New York Times, when asked whether US airstrikes carried out on Christmas Day in north-western Nigeria were part of a wider military campaign. “I’d love to make it a one-time strike. But if they continue to kill Christians, it will be a many-time strike,” he said. His remarks follow an earlier decision to designate Nigeria a “country of particular concern,” citing what he called an “existential threat” to Christians.
Nigerian authorities have strongly rejected that characterisation, insisting that insecurity in the country is not driven by religion. The government says violence by jihadist insurgents, criminal gangs and armed groups affects Muslims, Christians and others alike. Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to diplomacy, stressing that the government is working with partners, including the US, while protecting all citizens without discrimination.
Groups monitoring political violence note that most victims of jihadist attacks are Muslims, particularly in northern regions. Trump acknowledged Muslims were also being killed but maintained that Christians were the main targets.
The Christmas Day airstrikes hit two camps linked to a jihadist group known as Lakurawa in Sokoto State. Neither Washington nor Abuja has released casualty figures or an official assessment of the operation.
2026 budget: FG allocates N1.7trn to pay contractors owed since 2024
The Federal Government has set aside N1.8 trillion in the 2026 Appropriation Bill to settle long-standing debts owed to indigenous contractors, signalling a major attempt to ease fiscal tensions and revive stalled infrastructure projects. The provision includes N1.7 trillion for outstanding liabilities on capital projects executed in 2024 and an additional N100 billion for other verified local contractors’ debts and legacy obligations. The allocation forms part of the proposed N23.2 trillion capital expenditure for 2026, as the Tinubu administration seeks to clean up arrears worsened by delayed budget releases and revenue shortfalls.
The move follows sustained protests by the All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria (AICAN), which accused the government of failing to pay over N500 billion for completed federal projects in 2024. In December 2025, contractors picketed the Ministry of Finance in Abuja, disrupting access to the complex and demanding immediate payment for certified works already in use. AICAN’s General Secretary, Babatunde Oyeniyi, said the contractors were asking for nothing beyond what they were owed, warning that prolonged non-payment had pushed many indigenous firms to the brink of collapse.
Venezuela frees political detainees amid US pressure
Venezuela has begun releasing detainees long labelled by human rights groups as political prisoners, a move that has sparked both international praise and deep scepticism. Among those freed is prominent Venezuelan-Spanish activist Rocío San Miguel, along with members of her family, highlighting the political weight of the decision. Spain confirmed that five of its nationals were included, while U.S. President Donald Trump hailed the releases as a “very important and smart gesture,” framing them as a response to sustained American pressure. The development comes amid renewed, tactical engagement between Washington and Caracas following the ousting of Nicolás Maduro, raising concerns that prisoner releases may be deployed as diplomatic leverage rather than evidence of meaningful democratic reform. Rights advocates warn that selective freedom for high-profile detainees does little to address broader patterns of repression, arbitrary arrests and weakened civil liberties in the country.
In a separate but equally unsettling development, Swiss authorities have detained Jacques Moretti, a French national and co-owner of the Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, where a devastating New Year’s Eve fire claimed 40 lives and left 116 people injured, many of them teenagers. Prosecutors cited fears he could flee as investigators move closer to criminal charges. Moretti and his wife, Jessica, are suspected of manslaughter by negligence, bodily harm by negligence and arson by negligence. Investigators believe sparklers placed in champagne bottles and held too close to the ceiling triggered the inferno, intensifying scrutiny of safety lapses and fire-prevention standards at nightlife and celebratory venues across Europe.
Presidential fiscal committee pushes back on KPMG critique of new tax laws
Nigeria’s Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee has firmly defended the country’s newly enacted tax laws, dismissing criticisms by KPMG Nigeria as largely rooted in misunderstandings of policy intent rather than genuine legislative flaws. Responding to KPMG’s report titled “Nigeria’s New Tax Laws: Inherent Errors, Inconsistencies, Gaps and Omissions,” the committee acknowledged minor clerical and implementation-related concerns but insisted that most of the issues raised misrepresented deliberate policy choices as technical errors.
The committee stressed that disagreements over tax policy direction should not be framed as gaps or omissions in the law. It argued that several professional firms engaged constructively with government during the reform process, unlike what it described as KPMG’s largely “static critique.” On capital gains tax, the committee rejected warnings that the reforms could trigger equity market sell-offs, noting that the tax on share disposals is progressive, not a flat 30 percent, with most investors—about 99 percent—qualifying for full exemptions or reinvestment reliefs. It added that the stock market’s record performance undermines fears of declining investor confidence.
Defending other provisions, the committee said the introduction of indirect transfer taxation aligns Nigeria with global best practices and BEPS standards, closing loopholes in cross-border transactions rather than discouraging foreign investment. It also justified restrictions on foreign exchange deductions and VAT-linked expense deductibility as anti-avoidance measures aimed at stabilising the naira and boosting compliance.
While dismissing some KPMG concerns as outdated or redundant, the committee faulted the firm for overlooking key benefits of the reforms, including a potential cut in corporate tax rates, expanded VAT credits, exemptions for small businesses and low-income earners, and the removal of minimum tax burdens. Ultimately, it said successful implementation will depend on effective administration and continued stakeholder engagement.
ACFON 2025: Chelle confident ahead of Nigeria vs Algeria quarter-final cracker
Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has expressed strong confidence in Nigeria’s chances ahead of Saturday’s high-stakes 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) quarter-final against Algeria at the Grand Stade de Marrakech, as both teams battle for a place in the semi-finals. The much-anticipated encounter kicks off at 5pm Nigerian time.
Chelle said his players are fully focused and mentally prepared to confront a formidable Algerian side, stressing that unity and discipline will be decisive. He noted that while energy and intensity are important, mindset remains the key factor in knockout football. The Nigerian coach also dismissed suggestions of seeking revenge for past defeats, insisting his sole objective is qualification.
Nigeria and Algeria share a fierce rivalry, with the North Africans having edged the Super Eagles in their last AFCON meeting — a dramatic 2019 semi-final in Cairo decided by a stoppage-time free-kick from Riyad Mahrez. The Super Eagles have not defeated Algeria since a 3–1 victory in a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Uyo in 2016.
Algeria head coach Vladimir Petković, however, is confident his side can extend its recent dominance. The Bosnian-Swiss tactician said his players possess the mentality, balance and quality required to overcome Nigeria, emphasizing that both defensive solidity and attacking efficiency will be crucial. According to Petković, every detail will matter in what he expects to be a fiercely contested quarter-final.
