Flamingos: NSC Rejects Peter Obi’s Account, Demands Apology
The National Sports Commission (NSC) has rejected Peter Obi’s account of an alleged attempt to prevent him from greeting Nigeria’s victorious Under-17 women’s team, the Flamingos, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, demanding an apology from the former Anambra State governor.
The NSC Chairman, Shehu Dikko, gave the commission’s position in a statement titled, ‘NSC Responds to Peter Obi: Flamingos’ World Cup Victory Must Not Be Politicised’.
Dikko said officials of the NSC and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) who accompanied and received the team reported that they did not see Obi near the players or around the international terminal.
According to him, two individuals wearing Obi’s campaign face caps and other campaign attire approached the officials and requested that the former governor meet and take photographs with the players.
He said the officials declined the request because it was made without prior notice and could have involved campaign materials.
Dikko explained that the Flamingos had arrived from Morocco at about 5:30 am aboard an Air Maroc flight and were tired after their journey and demanding competition.
“The officials exercised their judgment in declining the sudden meeting and photograph request at that time, taking account of the players’ welfare and the circumstances of the request and without any prior notice of any arrangement for airport reception for the team,” he said.
He added that nothing in the officials’ account supported the allegation that their jobs were threatened if Obi approached the players.
Obi had earlier accused NFF officials of preventing him from greeting the team, which returned to Nigeria on Monday after defeating Japan 2-1 in the final of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.
In a statement titled, ‘A New Dimension of Toxic Politics in Nigeria’, the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) said he arrived at the airport at about 7 am while preparing to board a flight to Enugu.
He said he spotted the victorious players and asked his Protocol Officer, Jackie Wayas, to find out whether he could greet and welcome them.
According to Obi, he was informed that NFF officials had refused the request and warned that they could lose their jobs if he approached the players.
He described the incident as another example of what he called toxic politics in the country.
However, Dikko disputed his account, noting that Obi had said he was at the airport to board a flight to Enugu, while the Flamingos arrived through the international terminal.
The NSC chairman said other airport users welcomed and celebrated the players, taking photographs, dancing and shaking hands with them as they made their way to their buses.
He criticised Obi for presenting the incident as political intimidation without first seeking clarification from the commission or the NFF.
“These young champions should not be drawn into that controversy and never deserved this from Mr Obi,” he said.
Dikko urged the former governor to apologise to the players, arguing that his subsequent statement and media interviews had overshadowed their moment of celebration.
He also defended the officials’ decision, saying the players were minors and had a safeguarding officer within their technical crew to protect their welfare.
“Our young athletes must not be used to suggest allegiance to any political party. These considerations apply equally to public officials, political figures and other members of the public,” he said.
The NSC chairman further noted that the Flamingos’ triumph followed more than seven months of preparation, including training, qualifying matches, the WAFU tournament and the World Cup in Morocco.
While acknowledging Obi’s congratulatory messages during the competition, Dikko called for more consistent support for national teams throughout their preparation and development.
He invited Obi and other Nigerians interested in meeting or hosting the players to submit formal requests to the NSC or NFF so arrangements could be made around the team’s schedule and welfare.
Dikko also cited the example of a Nigerian businessman who sponsored a delegation to Morocco to support the team during the final and subsequently donated $50,000 to the players on the pitch.
The NSC chairman also addressed Obi’s claim that he was prevented from visiting Super Eagles players in their dressing room after Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Zimbabwe in Uyo on March 25, 2025.
He said the players had requested privacy to hold an internal meeting after the match and that no dignitary, including himself and the governors present, visited the dressing room.
Dikko added that FIFA protocols restricted access to technical areas and dressing rooms to accredited persons, while other visitors required prior clearance.
He said football remained a national asset that united Nigerians across political, ethnic and religious divides, adding that the Flamingos’ historic achievement should not become a source of partisan division.
Nigeria defeated Japan 2-1 in the final on November 7 to win its first FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup title, becoming the first African country to lift the trophy.
By Oluwafemi Shodipe.
