NFF officials feared losing jobs, stopped me from greeting Flamingos – Obi
The 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has accused officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) of stopping him from welcoming Nigeria’s victorious Under-17 women’s team, the Flamingos, at the Abuja airport.
Obi disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday, titled “A New Dimension of Toxic Politics in Nigeria”, in which he lamented what he described as the growing politicisation of national affairs.
The former Anambra State governor said he arrived at the airport around 7 am on Monday ahead of a flight to Enugu when he spotted the Flamingos returning from Morocco after their historic FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup triumph.
He said he instructed his Protocol Officer, Jackie Wayas, to seek permission for him to congratulate the players but was informed that NFF officials had objected to his approach.
“I was informed that officials of the Nigerian Football Federation had refused and had requested that I not approach,” he said.
Obi alleged that the incident was a repeat of an experience he had during Nigeria’s World Cup qualifier against another country in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on March 25, 2025.
According to him, although the state governor welcomed him at the VIP stand, he was prevented from meeting the players after the match.
“Following the match, other government officials went to greet the players, but I was again prevented from doing so. I was told by the officials that they would lose their jobs if I proceeded,” he said.
Expressing concern over what he described as an increasingly hostile political environment, Obi said political affiliations should never determine who can celebrate or identify with national achievements.
“It is deeply troubling to witness the extent of toxic politics into which our nation has descended since 2025. Each year appears to bring further deterioration. This reflects how deeply Nigeria has been affected,” he said.
He called for an atmosphere where political differences would not breed hostility, discrimination or exclusion, urging Nigerians to prioritise unity, mutual respect and shared humanity.
The NFF had yet to respond publicly to Obi’s allegations as of the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, the Flamingos returned to Abuja on Monday following their 2-1 victory over Japan in Saturday’s final in Morocco.
The triumph secured Nigeria its first FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup title, making the country the first African nation to win the competition.