Eric Chelle Determined To Win More Trophies for Nigeria After Unity Cup Victory

 

Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle has expressed his desire to win more trophies for Nigeria after winning the Unity Cup at the GTech Community Stadium in Brentford, London.

Chelle led the Super Eagles to victory over Jamaica in the final of the second edition of the tournament, 21 years after winning the first-ever organised Unity Cup.

In 2004, Nigeria beat the Reggae Boyz 2-0 to win the maiden edition in Charlton, but they went through a penalty shootout to claim a 5-4 victory on Saturday, after 2-2.draw in regulation time


Chelle, who had begun his reign with a win and a draw in the troubled 2026 World Cup qualifiers, was delighted to lift his first piece of silverware as a coach and hopes to add more as Nigeria go into the 2025 AFCON in Morocco by December.

“This is my first trophy as a coach. When I was a football player, I won lots of trophies. I hope with this trophy I can bring Nigeria another trophy,” Chelle said.

At the Unity Cup, the Franco-Malian coach had a blend of home-based and foreign stars, as they remain hopeful of picking a ticket to the World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico before the AFCON.

“We have an important goal in September. So I saw this as an opportunity to give many players a chance to show what they can do. And I’m really happy and proud of them because, in just two or three training sessions, they worked really hard. That’s the reality.

“During this tournament, we scored goals, we created chances, and we showed some very good things in our game. But of course, we still need to work. We have weaknesses. In today’s game, for instance, we made 22 mistakes — that’s a lot.

“We need to improve, to step up as a group and as a team, especially if we want to qualify for the World Cup.”

The Super Eagles will face Russia in another international friendly on Friday before resuming their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign in September.

With four games left in the series, Chelle’s men will face Rwanda at home and South Africa away in September, while their last two games are against Lesotho away and the Benin Republic at home in October.

They need to win their remaining matches to stand a chance of qualifying as they are currently fourth in Group C with just seven points, six points behind leaders South Africa.

By Paul Akhagbemhe, AIT

Nigerians would need to pay more for Netflix despite diminishing purchasing power

The Basic is set to go for ₦4,000, up from ₦3,500, and the Mobile plan is now ₦2,500, up from ₦2,200, as seen in the Punch.

This new adjustment comes after previous increases in July 2024, further pinching customers in a country dealing with economic contraction and rising inflation.

In July 2024, the Premium plan increased by 40% to ₦7,000 ($4.40), the Standard plan by 37.5% to ₦5,500 ($3.46), the Basic plan by 21% to ₦3,500 ($2.20), and the Mobile plan from ₦1,600 ($1.01) to ₦2,200 ($1.38).

Earlier in April of the same year, the streaming service announced a price increase for its Premium Plan, raising it from N4,400 to N5,000.

At the same time, the Standard Plan increased from N3,600 to N4,000, while the Basic Plan stayed at N2,900.


Nigeria's economy vs Netflix

The Nigerian economy has suffered significantly in recent years, with the country's currency, the naira, depreciating and consumer purchasing power plummeting.

With the country’s inflation continuing to increase, the cost of basic goods and services has risen, making discretionary spending, such as video streaming, more difficult to justify for many Nigerians.

Streaming subscriptions are more expensive in industrialized countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom, but customers often earn much more, making such services reasonably affordable.

For example, although Americans pay $15.49 (approximately ₦24,000 at current exchange rates) for Netflix's Standard plan, the average U.S. worker makes more than $60,000 per year.

Nigeria's minimum monthly wage is currently ₦70,000, with many earning significantly less in the informal economy.

This is more complex when you consider that Nigeria’s current minimum wage of ₦70,000 is merely $43, compared to its minimum wage of ₦30,000 as of 2022, which was $70 when exchanged at the average rate of ₦423.7 at the end of the year.

This dip highlights Nigeria’s declining purchasing power in the face of one of its worst economic periods.

This disparity in purchasing power parity (PPP) also demonstrates the increasing difficulties of developing global subscription models in poor nations.

As streaming platforms pursue profitability, they risk losing customers in price-sensitive areas such as Nigeria.

Unless updated price structures or regional considerations are applied, subscription-based services may see decreased popularity in places where economic hardship makes digital entertainment increasingly costly.

However, the increase in internet and mobile penetration currently sweeping the nation could work against the above argument.

Additionally, Africa as whole led by countries like Nigeria and South Africa has been a market of interest for the streaming giants.

In 2023, reports indicated that Netflix planned to expand its operations on the continent, following the success of its local content production ventures in the region.

From 2016 to 2023 Netflix had invested the equivalent of €160 million in film content production in Africa, creating over 12,000 jobs in Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa.

However, as of the end of 2024, Netflix reportedly pulled out of the Nigerian market.

In a statement to TechCabal, Netflix denied the reports of its exit.

According to TechCabal, a Netflix spokesperson reaffirmed the company’s commitment to Nigeria, saying, “We are not exiting Nigeria. We will continue to invest in Nigerian stories to delight our audience.”

Over USD 23 million has been invested in Nigeria by the streaming service since 2016 in over 250 local licensed titles, co-produced and commissioned film content.

Netflix' investments has contributed $39 million towards GDP, $34 million towards household income, and $2.6 million towards tax revenue.

By Chinedu Okafor, Business Insider Africa

Related story: Netflix cuts original Nigeria productions

Nigeria launches AI Scaling Hub with Gates Foundation

In partnership with the Gates Foundation, Nigeria has launched the Nigeria Artificial Intelligence Scaling Hub, backed by a funding commitment of up to $7.5 million over three years.

Announced during a signing ceremony in Abuja, the initiative will focus on responsibly scaling AI solutions across healthcare, agriculture, and education.

The AI Scaling Hub aims to unite government agencies, tech firms, academia, and development partners to support the nationwide deployment of proven AI innovations.

Rather than developing isolated pilot projects, the hub intends to build a collaborative system that encourages mature AI tools to be applied widely.

The Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy stated that the move aligns with Nigeria’s draft National AI Strategy and broader technology agenda.

Minister Bosun Tijani said the hub would help turn local AI concepts into real-world results by offering innovators mentorship, resources, and support.

The Gates Foundation echoed the sentiment, with Nigeria Country Director Uche Amaonwu stressing the importance of ensuring AI benefits reach underserved communities.

The project also involves Lagos Business School and is expected to bolster Nigeria’s leadership in ethical AI adoption across Africa.

DigWatch

Video - Nigeria steps up malaria battle with local solutions after U.S. aid cuts

Nigeria is under pressure to enhance its malaria response after reductions in U.S. aid. The country records approximately 55 million malaria cases annually, resulting in around 90,000 deaths. Officials have pledged $200 million and are promoting homegrown health solutions.

CGTN

Military air strike kills at least 20 people in northwest Nigeria

A military air strike in northwest Nigeria has killed at least 20 people, according to the military and local residents, prompting calls from human rights groups for an investigation into the attack.

The strike occurred over the weekend in Zamfara state, one of the regions worst affected by violence from armed groups, commonly referred to as “bandits”.

Nigerian Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame said the strike followed intelligence that “a significant number of terrorists were massing and preparing to strike unsuspecting settlements”.

“Further intelligence confirmed that the bandits had killed some farmers and abducted a number of civilians, including women and children,” Ejodame said in a statement, adding that two local vigilantes were killed and two others injured in the crossfire.

However, according to residents cited by the AFP news agency, a group of local vigilantes pursuing a gang was mistakenly bombed by a Nigerian military jet.

The air force had been called in by villagers who had suffered an attack earlier in the weekend. Locals said an unknown number of people were also wounded in the strike.

“We were hit by double tragedy on Saturday,” said Buhari Dangulbi, a resident of the affected area. “Dozens of our people and several cows were taken by bandits, and those who trailed the bandits to rescue them were attacked by a fighter jet. It killed 20 of them.”

Residents told AFP that the bandits had earlier attacked the villages of Mani and Wabi in Maru district, stealing cattle and abducting several people. In response, vigilantes launched a pursuit to recover the captives and stolen livestock.

“The military aircraft arrived and started firing, killing at least 20 of our people,” Abdullahi Ali, a Mani resident and member of a local hunters’ militia, told the Reuters news agency.

Another resident, Ishiye Kabiru, said: “Our vigilantes from Maraya and nearby communities gathered and went after the bandits. Unfortunately, a military jet struck them.”

Alka Tanimu, also from the area, added: “We will still have to pay to get those kidnapped back, while the cows are gone for good.”

Amnesty International condemned the strike and urged a full investigation.

“Attacks by bandits clearly warrant a response from the state, but to launch reckless air strikes into villages – again and again – is absolutely unlawful,” the rights group said.

Nigeria’s military has previously acknowledged mistakenly hitting civilians during air operations targeting armed gangs.

In January, at least 16 vigilantes were killed in a similar strike in Zamfara’s Zurmi district.

In December 2022, more than 100 civilians were killed in Mutunji village while pursuing bandits. A year later, an attack on a religious gathering in Kaduna state killed at least 85 people.

Al Jazeera