Nigeria’s Ambassador to Poland, Ambassador Margareta Mary Obi, has moved to lift the spirits of the Falconets following their disappointing 0–2 defeat to Spain in their opening game of the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup on Monday.

Rather than allow the result to dampen the team’s morale, Ambassador Obi watched the encounter at the Stadion Sosnowiec alongside officials of the Nigerian mission and remained with the team after the final whistle to offer words of encouragement.

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The Nigerian diplomat took time to interact with the players and members of the technical crew, urging them not to allow the opening defeat to affect their confidence ahead of their crucial second Group F fixture against China.

Obi reminded the young players that despite the result, they had shown enough quality on the pitch and should focus on the positives while preparing for the next challenge.

Her message was simple: the defeat to Spain must be put behind them, and the Falconets must believe in their ability to respond.

In a particularly thoughtful gesture, the Ambassador also brought Nigerian food for the players, giving the squad a comforting taste of home while competing thousands of kilometres away from Nigeria.

The gesture helped create a more positive atmosphere around the team as the Falconets began preparations for what has now become a crucial encounter against China.

The two-time FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup silver medallists will return to the Stadion Sosnowiec on Thursday evening to face a Chinese side brimming with confidence after opening their campaign with a commanding 5–0 victory over New Caledonia.

That result has placed China at the summit of Group F, ahead of Spain on goal difference, while Nigeria must now fight for a result to keep their hopes of progressing to the knockout stage alive.

History offers a mixed record between the two nations at this level.

Nigeria and China have met twice previously at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. China won their first encounter 3–0 in Russia in 2006, before the Falconets secured a 1–1 draw in France in 2018, with a late own goal from a Chinese defender helping Nigeria advance to the quarter-finals.

Coach Moses Aduku insists the team has already moved on from the disappointment against Spain and is fully focused on the next assignment.

“We have put the match against Spain behind us and are focusing totally on the clash with China. The players are ready to come out stronger for the match against China,” Aduku said.

With the stakes now significantly higher, the Falconets will need to turn the encouragement they have received into a strong performance on the pitch.

And while the result against Spain left the Nigerian camp disappointed, Ambassador Obi’s intervention has offered the young players a timely reminder that they are not alone in their fight for World Cup glory.

From the stands to the dressing room, and even with a taste of home on the table, Ambassador Obi has made sure the Falconets know that Nigeria is behind them — now the response must come on the pitch against China.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has prioritised the supervision of terrorism financing as part of efforts to protect the country’s financial system from abuse by illicit actors.

The apex bank disclosed this in a statement signed by its Acting Director, Corporate Communications and Investor Relations Department, Sidi-Ali Hakama, on Tuesday.

The supervisory focus would cover terrorism-financing risk management, transaction monitoring, targeted financial sanctions implementation, and suspicious-transaction reporting related to terrorism financing.

“This supervisory priority covers, at a high level, terrorism-financing risk management, terrorism-financing transaction monitoring, targeted financial sanctions implementation, and terrorism financing-related suspicious transaction reporting,” CBN said.

CBN also said it would continue to apply a risk-based supervisory approach, including on-site and off-site engagements, to strengthen anti-money laundering, counter-terrorism financing, and counter-proliferation financing controls across the financial sector.

“The Bank will continue to apply a risk-based supervisory approach, including on-site and off-site engagement, to support effective AML/CFT/CPF controls across the financial sector in line with existing legal and regulatory obligations,” it said.

The regulator further explained that the supervisory focus would also support Nigeria’s domestic and international cooperation on counter-terrorism financing, counter-proliferation financing, financial integrity and the protection of the financial system.

The apex bank added that further supervisory engagement would be undertaken where necessary.

“Further supervisory engagement will be undertaken as appropriate,” it said.

This is another step by the regulator to curb terrorism financing and prevent illicit actors from abusing the financial system.

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In June, CBN directed banks and other financial institutions to immediately freeze accounts and assets linked to six individuals and four Bureau de Change (BDC) operators designated for terrorism and terrorism-financing-related activities, following an update to the Nigeria Sanctions List on 18 June.

In March, the CBN also amended the Revised Regulatory Framework for BVN and Watch-List for the Nigerian Banking Industry.

The amendment introduced measures that include a temporary 24-hour watch-list for BVNs linked to suspected fraudulent transactions, restricting BVN enrolment to persons aged 18 and above, limiting phone number amendments to once, and restricting access to BVN databases to CBN-licensed financial institutions.