By Ben Ezeamalu, Idrees Ali and Daphne Psaledakis LAGOS, Dec 26 (Reuters) - By publicly cooperating with the United States on a Christmas Day airstrike, Nigeria's government may have averted humiliating unilateral military action threatened a month ago by President Donald Trump.

President Trump said "numerous perfect strikes" had hit Islamic State militants in the West African nation of Nigeria.

Nigeria were cruising into the round of 16 until late changes and a controversial penalty caused chaos. We assess the talking points

FNC's Shannon Bream hosts Meghan Hayes and Mollie Hemingway to discuss the U.S. bombing of alleged terrorists in Nigeria, and Ukrainian President Zelensky and Israeli PM Netanyahu visiting President Trump in Florida today and tomorrow.

Professor Jason Johnson appeared on MS NOW Saturday, suggesting the Trump administration's strike on terror targets in Nigeria was racially motivated.

President Trump has previously accused the Nigerian government of failing to protect Christians from jihadists.

The bombing is the latest in a series of attacks in Nigeria's troubled northern region, where the country is battling multiple armed groups.