NFF Officials Stopped Me From Greeting Flamingos – Peter Obi

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has accused officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) of preventing him from welcoming and congratulating Nigeria’s victorious U-17 women’s team, the Flamingos, at the Abuja airport.

Obi made the allegation in a statement issued on Monday, titled “A New Dimension of Toxic Politics in Nigeria,” in which he expressed concern over what he described as the growing influence of political divisions in the country.

According to him, he arrived at the airport around 7 am on Monday to board a flight to Enugu when he sighted the Flamingos returning from Morocco after their historic triumph at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

He said he instructed his Protocol Officer, Jackie Wayas, to find out whether he could approach the players to congratulate them. However, he was reportedly informed that NFF officials had declined his request and directed that he should not approach the team.

The former Anambra State governor recalled a similar experience on March 25, 2025, during a World Cup qualifying match in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, where he claimed he was also prevented from greeting Nigerian footballers after the match.

Obi described the incidents as manifestations of what he termed toxic politics, lamenting that political differences were increasingly being allowed to undermine national unity and mutual respect.

He called for a Nigeria where political affiliations would not determine how citizens relate with one another, stressing the need to prioritise unity, mutual respect and shared humanity.

The NFF had yet to publicly respond to Obi’s allegation as of the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, the Flamingos returned to Abuja on Monday following their 2–1 victory over Japan in Saturday’s final in Morocco, securing Nigeria’s first-ever FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup title.

The historic achievement also made Nigeria the first African country to win the competition.