The NDC presidential candidate says officials warned they could lose their jobs if they allowed him to approach the team at Abuja airport.
Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has accused officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) of preventing him from greeting the Flamingos, Nigeria’s Under-17 women’s football team, after their return from the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.
Obi said the incident occurred on Monday morning at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, where the team arrived following its historic victory in the tournament.
In a statement, the former Anambra State governor said he arrived at the airport at about 7am to board a flight to Enugu when he saw the players preparing to leave.
He said he asked his protocol officer, Jackie Wayas, to find out whether he could welcome the team but was told that NFF officials had refused his request.
“I arrived at the airport at 7 a.m. this morning to board my flight to Enugu. There, I saw the Nigeria Under-17 girls’ team, which had just arrived and was preparing to board its vehicle into town,” he said.
“With genuine joy and enthusiasm, I asked my Protocol Officer, Jackie Wayas, to find out whether I could greet and welcome the team. I was informed that officials of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) had refused and had requested that I not approach them because, if I did, they would all lose their jobs.”
Obi described the incident as another example of what he called the growing influence of political divisions in the country, saying he had experienced similar treatment during a previous football event.
Obi recalls similar incident in Uyo
The NDC candidate said he was also prevented from greeting players after Nigeria’s World Cup qualifying match in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on March 25, 2025.
He said the governor had welcomed him at the VIP stand before the match, but he was later stopped from approaching the players.
“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.
Obi said the two incidents reflected what he considered a worsening culture of political hostility in Nigeria.
“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 political differences to be set aside in the treatment of citizens and public engagements.
“The new Nigeria we aspire to build must have no room for hostility, intimidation, or discrimination, regardless of political affiliation,” he said.
“It must be a Nigeria in which unity, mutual respect, and our shared humanity take precedence over political differences.”
The NFF had not publicly responded to Obi’s allegation as of the time of filing this report.
Flamingos return after historic World Cup triumph
The Flamingos arrived in Abuja on Monday after defeating Japan 2-1 in Saturday’s final in Morocco to win their first FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup title.
The victory also made Nigeria the first African country to win the competition.
Awawu Bashiru and Oluebube Umejiaku scored for Nigeria in the final, securing the historic title for the team.
