The National Sports Commission (NSC) has rejected Peter Obi’s allegations that officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) prevented him from greeting Nigeria’s victorious U-17 women’s team, the Flamingos, at the Abuja airport, demanding an unreserved apology from the former Anambra State governor.
The controversy followed the historic return of the Flamingos from Morocco after defeating Japan 2-1 in Saturday’s final to become the first African nation to win the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
Obi had alleged that NFF officials prevented him from welcoming the players when he arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Monday morning.
In a statement titled ‘A New Dimension of Toxic Politics in Nigeria’, the former Labour Party presidential candidate claimed he arrived at the airport around 7 am to board a flight to Enugu when he noticed the victorious team.
He said he subsequently instructed his protocol officer, Jackie Wayas, to find out whether he could approach the players and congratulate them on their achievement.
According to Obi, his protocol officer was informed that the NFF officials had refused the request and warned that those who allowed him to meet the players could lose their jobs.
However, the NSC has presented a different account of the incident, insisting that neither its officials nor those of the NFF saw Obi around the team when the players arrived.
In a statement issued by its chairman, Shehu Dikko, on Monday, the commission explained that two individuals wearing Obi’s campaign face caps and other campaign-related clothing approached officials to request an opportunity for the former governor to meet and take photographs with the players.
Dikko said the request was unexpected and raised concerns that the proposed interaction could involve campaign materials, potentially drawing the young footballers into political activities.
He also explained that the officials declined the request because the players had arrived from Morocco at approximately 5:30 am aboard an Air Maroc flight and were exhausted after their long journey and demanding World Cup campaign.
The NSC chairman maintained that the decision was taken in the interest of the players’ welfare, particularly because no prior arrangements had been made for the proposed meeting.
He further dismissed Obi’s allegation that officials threatened to lose their jobs for allowing him to approach the team, insisting that there was nothing in the account provided by the officials to support such a claim.
Dikko also questioned Obi’s account of his whereabouts at the airport, noting that the former governor had said he was travelling to Enugu, a journey that would ordinarily involve the domestic terminal, while the Flamingos arrived through the international terminal.
According to the NSC chairman, Nigerians and other passengers who were present at the international terminal celebrated the players, took photographs with them, danced and shook hands with the young champions as they proceeded to their buses.
He argued that Obi was never captured near the team or in the vicinity of the international terminal during the reception.
The commission subsequently criticised the former governor for turning what it described as an unscheduled request into a political controversy without first seeking clarification from the NFF or the NSC.
Dikko urged Obi to apologise to the players, arguing that their historic achievement should not have been overshadowed by political disagreements.
He said, “I urged and advised that His Excellency Mr Peter Obi reflect deeply and offer an unreserved apology to these young girls for souring their moment of glory with his regrettable actions, subsequent statement and media interviews deliberately weaponising a non-issue for political gain.”
The NSC chairman also defended the officials’ responsibility to protect the players, pointing out that the Flamingos are minors and have a designated safeguarding officer within their technical crew.
He stressed that interactions with the young athletes, including photographs and visits from public figures, must be properly coordinated to protect their dignity and prevent them from being associated with political parties or campaigns.
Dikko further invited Obi and other Nigerians interested in meeting or hosting the team to submit formal requests to the NFF or the NSC to allow appropriate arrangements to be made around the players’ schedules and welfare.
The commission also revisited another controversy involving Obi and the Super Eagles following Nigeria’s 1-1 draw against Zimbabwe in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Uyo on March 25, 2025.
Obi had previously claimed that he was prevented from visiting the Super Eagles dressing room after the match, suggesting that he was treated differently from other dignitaries.
However, Dikko, who said he attended the encounter alongside Obi and several state governors, including those of Lagos, Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom, maintained that nobody was allowed to enter the dressing room.
He explained that the players had requested an immediate meeting among themselves following the disappointing result, meaning that even himself, the governors and senior NFF officials were prevented from visiting them.
He also cited FIFA security and accreditation regulations, explaining that unauthorised access to dressing rooms and technical areas could attract sanctions against the NFF.
Meanwhile, the NSC chairman called on Nigerians to support national teams beyond their moments of success, stressing that investment in preparation, welfare and development remains essential to sustained sporting achievements.
He also highlighted the importance of football as a unifying force capable of bringing Nigerians together regardless of their political, ethnic and religious differences.
The Flamingos made history on Saturday by defeating Japan 2-1 in the final in Morocco. Awawu Bashiru opened the scoring in the 39th minute before Oluebube Umejiaku doubled Nigeria’s advantage two minutes into the second half. Japan pulled one back through Fuki Ito in the 80th minute, but Nigeria held on to secure the historic victory.
The triumph marked Nigeria’s first FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup title and made the Flamingos the first African team to win the competition.
With the NSC now demanding an apology and Obi maintaining his position on the airport incident, the disagreement has shifted attention from the team’s historic achievement to the circumstances surrounding their reception in Abuja.
