Former Anambra State Governor and presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has accused officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) of preventing him from greeting Nigeria’s victorious U-17 women’s team, the Flamingos, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

Obi said he arrived at the airport at about 7 a.m. on Monday to board a flight to Enugu when he noticed the team returning from Morocco after winning the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

In a statement titled “A New Dimension of Toxic Politics in Nigeria”, he said he instructed his protocol officer, Jackie Wayas, to find out whether he could welcome the players.

He alleged that his request was rejected by NFF officials, who reportedly warned that they could lose their jobs if they allowed him to approach the team.

Obi described the incident as another example of what he considered the politicisation of national sporting events.

He recalled a similar experience on March 25, 2025, when he attended Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Zimbabwe at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.

He said Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno welcomed him at the VIP stand, but he was allegedly prevented from greeting the Super Eagles after the match, while other government officials were allowed access to the players.

The former governor expressed concern that sporting institutions were being drawn into political divisions, arguing that national teams should remain accessible to Nigerians regardless of their political affiliations.

The Flamingos returned to Nigeria after defeating Japan 2-1 in the final to become the first African country to win the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.