Morning Recap: Nigerian flight delays after US-Israel strike on Iran, FIFA stalls on Nigeria-Congo World Cup verdict, other top stories

Thousands of Nigerian air travellers have been left stranded at various international airports following a wave of flight cancellations by major carriers, including Qatar Airways, Emirates, and Air France. The disruption comes as a direct fallout of the escalating military conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran, which forced several Middle Eastern countries to abruptly shut their airspaces. The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has issued a statement advising passengers to stay in close contact with their airlines for updates as flight routes are being diverted to avoid conflict zones. For more Similarly, the race for the White House has reached a boiling point as Vice President Kamala Harris and President Donald Trump intensify their rhetorical battle. Harris has sharpened her attacks on Trump’s recent policy stances, framing the upcoming election as a critical junction for the stability of American democracy and its foreign policy, particularly regarding the ongoing Middle East crisis. On the other side, the Trump campaign continues to leverage economic concerns and border security to galvanise his base, portraying the current administration as “weak” on the global stage. For more Also in this PUNCH Online Sunday morning recap is the Nigeria Football Federation, and millions of fans are on edge as the world football governing body, FIFA, stalls on its verdict regarding the eligibility of players fielded by DR Congo. The petition filed by the NFF alleges that several Congolese players improperly switched nationalities, a move that could potentially disqualify DR Congo and give the Super Eagles a “backdoor” entry into the intercontinental play-offs in Mexico. NFF President Ibrahim Gusau has called for patience, expressing hope that the ruling will favor Nigeria and keep the dream of a 2026 World Cup appearance alive. For more Other top stories are listed below: Senate: We’ll deliver state police by year end The Senate has stated that it will complete the amendment of the 1999 Constitution to allow the creation of state police before the end of 2026. The Senate spokesperson, Yemi Adaramodu, told Sunday PUNCH on Friday that the upper chamber would immediately resume work on the constitutional review once plenary reconvenes next week. This follows President Bola Tinubu’s request to the National Assembly to begin the process of amending the constitution to incorporate state police as part of efforts to tackle the nation’s insecurity challenges. For more 2027: S’South ADC leaders refute endorsing Amaechi’s presidential bid The South-South Zonal Leadership of the African Democratic Congress has denied reports claiming that its national leader, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, and other regional leaders have endorsed former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi for the presidency. Speaking on behalf of the zonal leadership, the South-South Zonal Publicity Secretary in a statement on Saturday, Mabel Oboh, described the reports as “misleading, undemocratic, and a troubling example of how selective narratives can distort political reality.” The February 27 meeting, held at Oyegun’s residence in Benin, gathered respected party elders, senior stakeholders, and state representatives from Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, and Rivers States. For more