Good morning, Nigeria. Welcome to today’s Gossip News Now briefing featuring the top stories making headlines this Monday, 17th November 2025.
1. Super Eagles Eliminated From 2026 World Cup Qualifiers After Penalty Loss to DR Congo
Nigeria’s Super Eagles have been knocked out of the race for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after suffering a painful penalty-shootout defeat to DR Congo on Sunday night in Rabat, Morocco.
The CAF play-off finale ended 1–1 after extra time, and DR Congo triumphed 4–3 in the shootout to secure their place in the intercontinental playoffs. The result means Nigeria will miss the World Cup for the second tournament in a row.
With neither side able to find a decisive goal in regular or extra time, the match went to penalties, where the pressure intensified with each attempt. Nigeria’s first two kicks went badly—Calvin Bassey shot over the bar and Moses Simon’s effort was saved. Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali kept Nigeria alive with two spot-kick stops of his own.
The shootout eventually moved into sudden death, where Semi Ajayi’s effort was blocked by Timothy Fayulu. DR Congo captain Chancel Mbemba then took the decisive kick, blasting it into the top of the net and sending the Congolese players and supporters into jubilant celebration.
2. “You Didn’t Call Me for Two Years” – Imisi Confronts Mother Over Public Accusations
Big Brother Naija Season 10 champion, Imisi Ayanwale, has reacted to claims made by her mother, questioning why the issue was brought forward only after she gained fame.
As reported by Gossip News Now , the controversy erupted after her mother shared videos online on November 16, alleging neglect and claiming she was still living in hardship despite Imisi’s ₦150 million prize.
In the videos, her mother expressed anger and vowed not to beg for assistance.
In a statement posted on Instagram, Imisi said her mother had been absent from her life long before her BBNaija victory, noting that years could pass without any communication.
She said she was taken aback by the sudden public accusations, given their historically strained relationship.
Imisi added that she has supported her mother over time and had even sent money shortly before the online outburst.
She stressed that she cannot allocate her entire winnings to satisfy one individual, as many relatives are also depending on her since her win.
3. Tinubu’s Envoy Meets Plateau Cleric, Miyetti Allah Leaders In Renewed Peace Effort
Abiodun Essiet, Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Community Engagement, has held a meeting with prominent Plateau State pastor, Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo, in a fresh attempt to restore confidence and promote peace in the crisis-ridden state.
According to a statement released on Sunday by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, the engagement formed part of a two-day peace initiative mandated by President Tinubu.
During the visit, Essiet met with Rev. Dachomo—who serves as the regional head of the Church of Christ in Nations in Barkin Ladi—alongside traditional leaders, Miyetti Allah officials, and other community stakeholders.
Onanuga noted that the discussions “focused on the vital role of faith-based leadership in advancing peace, unity, and community development.”
Essiet and Dachomo also met with widows in the area, conveying President Tinubu’s message encouraging deeper ethnic reconciliation across Plateau communities.
Additionally, the presidential aide sat with Fulani leaders in Barkin Ladi to promote dialogue and strengthen understanding between herders and farming populations.
4. DSS Dismantles Arms-Supply Ring in Plateau, Arrests Alleged Weapons Maker
The Department of State Services (DSS) says it has uncovered a “major arms distribution network” suspected of supplying weapons used in recent terror attacks in Plateau State and other parts of northern Nigeria.
In a statement released on Sunday, November 16, the DSS confirmed that its operatives arrested an alleged arms manufacturer, Musa Abubakar, during a coordinated intelligence-led operation conducted on November 12, 2025.
The agency revealed that reliable intelligence traced the suspect to a weapons-production site situated in the Mista Ali community of Bassa Local Government Area, Plateau State.
According to the DSS, the suspect “admitted to producing and supplying sophisticated firearms and ammunition to armed groups carrying out violent attacks in Plateau State and other northern zones.”
Investigators believe that weapons made in the workshop were distributed to criminal networks responsible for repeated deadly assaults on vulnerable communities.
The security agency added that the raid resulted in the seizure of numerous materials, including components used to build improvised explosive devices (IEDs), various chemicals, and other tools associated with weapons manufacturing.
5. Lt. Yerima, Who Challenged Wike, Reportedly Survives Assassination Attempt
Nigerian Navy officer Lt. A.M. Yerima—known for his recent confrontation with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike—has reportedly escaped an attempt on his life on Sunday evening.
Vanguard reports that sources revealed Yerima was pursued by unidentified individuals dressed in black and traveling in two unmarked Hilux vehicles with no license plates.
According to the accounts, the suspicious vehicles allegedly tracked him from the NIPCO Filling Station near the Line Expressway all the way to Gado Nasco Way.
The officer reportedly detected the tail and carried out a “tactical escape maneuver,” successfully shaking off the suspected attackers around 6:30 p.m.
The source further noted that the incident is currently under investigation and is being handled with “the utmost seriousness,” adding that additional information is being deliberately withheld to avoid jeopardizing ongoing inquiries.
Gossip News Now earlier reported that Lt. Yerima, while on official duty with other security personnel, engaged in a heated exchange with FCT Minister Wike over a contentious land parcel in the Gaduwa District.
Footage of the confrontation went viral and triggered widespread reactions, prompting the Presidency to suspend the demolition activities planned for the disputed site.
6. ‘He Will Announce It Very, Very Soon’ – Presidency Updates On Tinubu’s Ambassadorial Appointments
The Presidency has reaffirmed that President Bola Tinubu is set to unveil a new list of ambassadorial nominees to occupy strategic roles in Nigeria’s 109 overseas missions.
This update was provided on Sunday by Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, amid increasing public pressure for the appointment of full-fledged envoys.
President Tinubu had in September 2023 ordered the withdrawal of all ambassadors—covering 76 embassies, 22 high commissions, and 11 consulates—as part of what was termed a “comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s diplomatic framework.”
Since that directive, many foreign missions have functioned under chargés d’affaires or senior consular officials whose restricted authority has reportedly diminished Nigeria’s diplomatic visibility.
Due to this arrangement, several host countries have accorded less prominence to Nigeria’s representatives, with foreign policy observers linking the gap in diplomatic leadership to a decline in global influence and recent tensions with the United States, including Donald Trump’s contentious remarks about religious violence.
In response to questions from Vanguard, Onanuga assured that President Tinubu’s ambassadorial appointments would be announced in the immediate future.
7. Pope Names Nigeria, Mozambique Among Nations Where Christians Face Persecution
Pope Leo XIV has strongly criticised the escalating violence, discrimination, and hostility directed at Christian populations across various regions, listing Nigeria, Mozambique, Bangladesh, and Sudan as countries where church communities and worshippers continue to suffer deadly assaults.
In a message shared on 𝕏 on Sunday, the Pope said the growing pattern of religious persecution is “deeply alarming,” calling for renewed global intervention to safeguard threatened Christian minorities.
He also extended his condolences to bereaved families in Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo, following the recent massacre of dozens of civilians during another wave of conflict in the region.
He wrote, “God is a compassionate Father who desires peace for all His children. I keep in prayer the families in Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where a civilian massacre occurred in the past few days.”
Pope Leo XIV urged an end to the violence and appealed to religious communities worldwide to unite in efforts that advance peace, stability, and collective wellbeing.
8. Sowore Calls for Senator Ned Nwoko’s Arrest Over Alleged Rights Violations
Human rights advocate and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, has demanded the suspension and arrest of Delta North Senator Ned Nwoko over allegations that include cross-border exploitation, unlawful imprisonment, and the alleged use of security agencies for personal purposes.
Sowore made the call in a video shared on his 𝕏 page on Sunday, stressing that the issue goes well beyond the reported illegal detention of Regina Daniels’ brother, Samuel Ojeogwu, widely known as Sammy West.
According to him, “The uproar around Senator Ned Nwoko is not just about the unlawful arrest of his estranged wife Regina Daniels’ brother, Sammy West. What we are seeing reflects a broader and deeply disturbing pattern of cross-border abuse of minors and the manipulation of state institutions.”
Sowore further claimed that Nwoko has for years been involved in human rights violations, allegedly supported by members of the Nigeria Police Force, whom he described as “disgraced officers” functioning as the senator’s “personal enforcers.”
9. D’Banj Reveals Why Don Jazzy Ended Mo’Hits
Nigerian music star D’Banj has opened up about the breakup of Mo’Hits Records, stating that the decision to dissolve the iconic label was solely made by Don Jazzy.
According to Gossip News Now , the split—which stunned fans and reshaped the Nigerian music landscape—was not initiated by D’Banj.
Speaking in an interview with Seun Okinbaloye, D’Banj explained that Don Jazzy chose to end their partnership, a move that ultimately helped them preserve a healthy relationship afterward.
After the separation, Don Jazzy handed D’Banj full rights to his music catalogue, including unreleased songs.
This allowed D’Banj to continue his career smoothly and retain ownership of all his creative projects.
Their final major collaboration, Oliver Twist, served as the closing chapter of their joint run.
D’Banj noted that the global success of the track was their way of bowing out with a memorable and influential finale.
10. U-17 World Cup Round of 16 Lineup Finalized as Brazil Meet France, England Paired With Austria
The Round of 16 fixtures for the ongoing FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar have been officially set following the completion of the last group-stage matches on Saturday, November 15, 2025.
According to Gossip News Now , Uganda and Burkina Faso clinched their spots in the knockout round after pulling off stunning victories over Senegal and Germany—results widely regarded as two of the tournament’s biggest shocks.
England, Italy, North Korea, Austria, and Japan also secured passage to the next phase after earning crucial wins in their final group games.
The knockout stage will begin on Tuesday, November 18, with fans eagerly awaiting several potentially explosive matchups.
Those are the major newspaper headlines from Nigeria for today. For more updates, visit Gossip News Now . Join us again tomorrow.
