Former Anambra State Governor and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate Peter Obi has accused officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) of preventing him from congratulating Nigeria’s victorious Under-17 women’s team, the Flamingos, following their historic FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup triumph.
Obi made the allegation on Monday after encountering the young Nigerian footballers at the Abuja airport, where they arrived following their memorable victory over Japan in the final of the tournament in Morocco.
The former presidential candidate said he arrived at the airport at approximately 7am to board a flight to Enugu when he noticed the Flamingos, who had just returned to the country after making history by winning Nigeria’s first FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup title.
Excited by the opportunity to welcome the players and celebrate their achievement, Obi said he instructed his Protocol Officer, Jackie Wayas, to find out whether he could approach the team and congratulate them.
However, he claimed he was informed that NFF officials had rejected the request and instructed that he should not be allowed to approach the players.
According to Obi, he was told that the officials involved could lose their jobs if they allowed him to interact with the victorious team.
In a statement titled ‘A New Dimension of Toxic Politics in Nigeria’, the former Anambra governor expressed disappointment over the incident, describing it as another indication of the growing political divisions and intolerance in the country.
Obi further alleged that the airport incident was not an isolated experience, recalling a similar encounter during Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on March 25, 2025.
He explained that he had attended the match and was warmly received by the state governor at the VIP stand. However, according to him, he was prevented from greeting the Super Eagles players after the match, even though other government officials were allowed to interact with the team.
Obi claimed that officials again warned that they could lose their jobs if they permitted him to approach the players.
Reflecting on both incidents, he criticised what he described as the increasing influence of toxic politics in Nigeria, arguing that political differences should never become a reason for hostility or discrimination.
He called for a country where citizens could interact freely regardless of their political affiliations, insisting that national unity, mutual respect and shared humanity should take precedence over partisan interests.
The controversy comes at a particularly significant moment for Nigerian football, as the Flamingos have just achieved one of the greatest milestones in the history of the country’s women’s game.
Nigeria defeated Japan 2-1 in Saturday’s final in Rabat, Morocco, to become the first African nation to win the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
Awawu Bashiru opened the scoring for Nigeria before Oluebube Umejiaku added the decisive second goal, sealing a historic victory and sending the young Nigerian players into the country’s football history books.
The achievement attracted celebrations from across the country, with political leaders, football administrators, former players and supporters congratulating the team for bringing international recognition to Nigeria.
However, Obi’s allegation has introduced a fresh controversy into the celebrations, raising questions about access to national sporting teams, official protocol and the relationship between politics and sports administration.
Reacting to the allegation, the Presidency cautioned against politicising national sporting achievements. Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, argued that national teams represent all Nigerians rather than any political party or individual.
He defended the use of protocol arrangements, saying they were designed to protect young athletes from political exploitation, commercial distractions and unnecessary media attention while performing official duties.
Olusegun also criticised the presentation of the incident as political victimisation, describing Obi’s account as an attempt to turn administrative procedures into a political controversy.
Former presidential aide Bashir Ahmad also questioned Obi’s interpretation of the encounter, arguing that security and administrative considerations could have influenced the decision to restrict access to the players.
Despite the reactions, the Nigeria Football Federation had not publicly addressed Obi’s allegation at the time of reporting.
The controversy has therefore left unanswered questions about why the former Anambra governor was allegedly prevented from greeting the players and whether the decision was based on established protocol or other considerations.
Beyond the political exchanges, the development has renewed attention on the need to protect the achievements of Nigerian athletes from unnecessary controversies.
The Flamingos’ historic victory belongs to the players, their coaches, the technical crew and the millions of Nigerians who supported their journey. Their accomplishment represents a significant breakthrough for African women’s football and deserves to remain at the centre of national celebrations.
As reactions continue to emerge, many will be looking towards the NFF for clarification on the circumstances surrounding the airport encounter, while the Flamingos’ remarkable achievement remains a moment of pride for Nigerian football.
