Photo: The Flamingos lift the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup trophy in Morocco — FIFA Women's World Cup / Instagram, via BellaNaija
FLAMINGOS WATCH — Bukola Olopade, Director-General of the National Sports Commission, has disputed Peter Obi's account of the Flamingos' arrival at Abuja airport, describing the NDC presidential candidate as a "pathological liar" — and saying the team's landing time and exit route made the encounter he described impossible.
Olopade spoke in a WhatsApp group in which The Athletic NG is a participant, responding to its report of Obi's allegation. His is the first response from Nigeria's sports authorities themselves, after earlier replies from the Presidency and Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo.
- Olopade says the Flamingos landed at about 5:30am, in darkness, before domestic check-in began
- He says the players cleared immigration and left through the international terminal's underground exit
Why Olopade says Obi could not have seen the Flamingos
"The plane landed at 5:30 a.m. It was still very dark. No local flight was checking in at that time. Even if they were checking in, there was no way Obi would have seen those children from where he was at the local airport," Olopade said.
He also challenged Obi's account of a similar Uyo incident in March 2025: "You cannot say because you are Obi or anyone else, you want to go and see the players in their dressing room. There are protocols." He added: "Everything should not be about politics. He cannot take away the shine and glory of these girls."
What Peter Obi said happened at the airport
Obi said he arrived at about 7am on Monday for an Enugu flight, saw the returning world champions, and sent his protocol officer, Jackie Wayas, to ask whether he could greet them. He said NFF officials refused and asked that he not approach.
NTN has reported Obi's account as his allegation from the start. The NFF has still not publicly responded, and Olopade's 5:30am landing time differs from the roughly 5:50am arrival reported on Monday.
What happens next
The Flamingos' homecoming continues, with a presidential reception still to be scheduled. An NFF statement, or a response from Obi to Olopade's timeline, would be the next chapter of FLAMINGOS WATCH.
Credit: The Athletic NG (Nov 9, 2026); corroborated by Matrix News and City Voice (Nov 10, 2026).
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