FIFA President Gianni Infantino condemned “some Senegal players” for the “unacceptable scenes” which overshadowed their victory in Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations final when they walked off the pitch in protest at a penalty awarded to Morocco.

“We strongly condemn the behaviour of some ‘supporters’ as well as some Senegalese players and technical staff members.

African football’s showpiece event was marred by most of the Senegalese players walking off the pitch when deep into injury time of normal play, with the match all square at 0-0, Morocco were awarded a spot-kick following a VAR check for a challenge on Brahim Diaz.

Senegal’s former Liverpool star Sadio Mane remained on the pitch and urged his teammates to come back onto the pitch for the penalty.

They were already furious at having a goal disallowed at the other end for a soft-looking foul minutes earlier.

Meanwhile, trouble broke out in the stands as some Senegalese fans tried to enter the field of play and became involved in fighting with security personnel.

The game was held up for almost 20 minutes before Diaz could take the penalty, and his weak ‘panenka’ kick was saved by Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.

Pape Gueye then went on to score a brilliant goal in the fourth minute of extra time to give his team a 1-0 win.

Infantino, while congratulating Morocco on “a fantastic tournament, both as runners-up and exceptional hosts” — a boost ahead of them co-hosting the men’s 2030 World Cup — said teams have to abide by the match officials’ decisions.

“We must always respect the decisions taken by the match officials on and off the field of play,” he said.

“Teams must compete on the pitch and within the Laws of the Game, because anything less puts the very essence of football at risk.”

Infantino, who will be hoping there are no such scenes in this year’s World Cup finals being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, said images such as those on Sunday sent the wrong message to supporters round the world.

“It is also the responsibility of teams and players to act responsibly and set the right example for fans in the stadiums and millions watching around the world,” he said.

“The ugly scenes witnessed today must be condemned and never repeated. I reiterated that they have no place in football and I expect that the relevant disciplinary bodies at CAF will take the appropriate measures.”

By Tony Obiechina, Abuja

Reaffirming its strong commitment to free technical education and skills development, the Federal Government has announced the commencement of applications for admission into Federal Technical Colleges across Nigeria.

The announcement was made by the Federal Ministry of Education following the approval of the initiative by the Minister of Education, Dr.

The initiative according to a statement by the director of education, Folashade Boriowo on Monday, aligns with the Federal Government’s broader strategy to expand access to quality technical and vocational education and to equip young Nigerians with practical, employable, and industry-relevant skills.

Registration for the National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) into Federal Technical Colleges will open on Monday, 26th January 2026, and close on Sunday, 24th May 2026.

The entrance examination will be conducted nationwide on Saturday, 6th June 2026.

Prospective candidates are required to complete their applications through the official National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) online portal via the designated website.

The Ministry emphasises that possession of a valid National Identification Number (NIN) is compulsory for all applicants and remains a prerequisite for successful registration.

The Federal Government further reiterates that technical education in Federal Technical Colleges is fully funded upon admission, underscoring its commitment to human capital development, youth empowerment, and enhanced national productivity.

Admission is open to candidates aged between 13 and 20 years. Parents, guardians, and prospective candidates are advised to strictly comply with all application requirements and obtain information solely from official channels of the Federal Ministry of Education and designated examination bodies.

By Tony Obiechina, Abuja

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has raised Nigeria’s economic growth forecast for 2026 to 4.4 per cent, up from the 4.2 per cent projected in October 2025.

The revised forecast is contained in the IMF’s January 2026 update of the World Economic Outlook, released on Monday.

The Fund said Nigeria’s improved outlook forms part of a broader assessment of global economic conditions, which it expects to remain relatively stable in the medium term.

According to the IMF, the upward revision reflects gradual economic strengthening across Sub-Saharan Africa rather than an isolated adjustment for Nigeria.

Nigeria’s revised growth projection follows a period of major economic adjustments marked by policy reforms and efforts to stabilise the macroeconomic environment.

In its October 2025 outlook, the IMF had expressed concerns over inflationary pressures, fiscal constraints and structural weaknesses in the Nigerian economy.

However, the Fund noted that policymakers have since continued reforms aimed at strengthening fiscal coordination, restoring macroeconomic balance and improving productivity in key sectors.

The IMF again stressed the importance of structural reforms in driving sustainable growth in emerging and developing economies, including Nigeria.

Across Sub-Saharan Africa, regional growth was revised upward from 4.0 per cent to 4.1 per cent for 2025, and from 4.3 per cent to 4.4 per cent for 2026, signalling a broadly shared recovery trend.

Globally, the Fund projects economic growth of 3.3 per cent in 2026 and 3.2 per cent in 2027, largely in line with the estimated 3.3 per cent growth recorded in 2025.

It said the outlook reflects a balance between headwinds from shifting trade policies and tailwinds from technology-driven investments, including artificial intelligence, alongside accommodative financial conditions.

The IMF also projected that global inflation will continue to ease, with headline inflation expected to decline from 4.1 per cent in 2025 to 3.8 per cent in 2026 and 3.4 per cent in 2027.