Peter Obi, the Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate, said on Monday that officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) stopped him from greeting Nigeria's U-17 women's team, the Flamingos, when the world champions arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
The Flamingos landed at 5:50am aboard a Royal Air Maroc flight from Morocco, where they beat Japan 2-1 in Saturday's final in Rabat to become the first African team to win the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.
Obi said he arrived at the airport at 7am to board a flight to Enugu and saw the team preparing to leave. He asked his protocol officer, Jackie Wayas, to find out whether he could greet and welcome the players.
"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," he wrote in a statement posted on X, titled "A New Dimension of Toxic Politics in Nigeria."
Obi recalls a similar incident in Uyo in 2025
Obi said the airport incident was not the first of its kind. He recalled that on March 25, 2025, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, the governor received him at the VIP stand for a World Cup qualifier, but after the match other government officials greeted the players while he was again prevented from doing so, and was told officials would lose their jobs if he proceeded.
He described the pattern as evidence of how far toxic politics has descended in Nigeria since 2025, saying the Nigeria he aspires to build must have no room for hostility, intimidation or discrimination regardless of political affiliation. His post drew mixed reactions online, with some Nigerians backing him and others accusing him of seeking a photo opportunity with the team.
NFF yet to respond as Flamingos begin homecoming celebrations
The NFF had not publicly responded to Obi's allegation at the time of the reports, and NewsTweetNaija is reporting his account as his own statement. The allegation has not been independently corroborated.
The Flamingos, whose final goals came from Awawu Bashiru and Oluebube Umejiaku, were due to embark on a trophy parade through Abuja later on Monday, from Eagle Square and the Federal Secretariat through Wuse Market to Maitama, Asokoro and Apo. An official presidential reception for the team will be held at a later date because of President Bola Tinubu's busy schedule, according to reports.
NewsTweetNaija will update this story when the NFF responds and when a date is announced for the official reception.
Credit: Peter Obi's statement on X; reports by The Athletic NG, NPO Reports, Complete Sports and Channels Television, November 9, 2026.
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