By Wasila Yakubu
The National Sports Commission (NSC) has disputed Peter Obi’s account of an alleged attempt to meet Nigeria’s victorious Under-17 women’s team, the Flamingos, at Abuja airport, insisting that the former Anambra State governor was not seen near the players.
The commission also called on the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress to apologise to the young footballers, arguing that the controversy had shifted attention away from their historic World Cup triumph.
In a statement issued on Monday, NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko said officials of the commission and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) who received the team reported that Obi did not approach the players or appear around the international terminal where they arrived.
According to Dikko, the request for a meeting and photographs came from two individuals dressed in Obi-branded campaign clothing, including face caps. He said the officials became concerned that the proposed interaction could involve campaign materials.
The commission explained that the request was turned down because the players had arrived from Morocco at about 5:30 am aboard an Air Maroc flight and needed rest after their journey and a demanding tournament.
Dikko maintained that the decision was based on the circumstances surrounding the request and the need to protect the players’ welfare, adding that no prior arrangement had been made for the proposed meeting.
Obi, however, had alleged that he personally sought to welcome the team but was prevented from doing so. He also claimed that his protocol officer, Jackie Wayas, was informed that NFF officials had rejected his request.
The former governor further alleged that officials warned they could lose their jobs if he approached the players, describing the incident as an example of what he called toxic politics.
But Dikko rejected that version, explaining that Obi had indicated he was at the airport to travel to Enugu, a journey that would ordinarily involve the domestic terminal, while the Flamingos arrived through the international terminal.
He added that passengers, airport officials and other Nigerians celebrated the returning players through photographs, handshakes and dancing, insisting that the reception was not restricted by political affiliation.
The NSC chairman criticised Obi for publicly portraying the incident as political victimisation without first seeking an explanation from the commission or the football federation.
He urged the politician to apologise to the players, saying their achievement should not be overshadowed by a dispute over an unscheduled airport interaction.
Dikko also stressed that the Flamingos are minors and have a designated safeguarding officer within their technical crew. He said any engagement with the team must prioritise their dignity, safety and welfare, regardless of the status of the person seeking access.
He warned that national athletes should not be placed in situations that could create the impression that they support a particular political party.
The commission further noted that the team's World Cup success followed more than seven months of preparation, including training camps, qualifying matches, the WAFU competition and the tournament in Morocco.
While acknowledging that Obi had sent congratulatory messages during the competition, Dikko called for more sustained support for Nigeria’s national teams, rather than attention focused only on their victories.
He encouraged Obi and other Nigerians wishing to meet or host the players to submit formal requests to the NSC or NFF so that suitable arrangements could be made around the team's schedule.
As an example of support for the team, Dikko cited a Nigerian businessman who sponsored a delegation to Morocco for the final and later presented the players with a $50,000 donation on the pitch. He said the contribution was made without demands for publicity or political recognition.
The NSC chairman also addressed Obi’s earlier allegation that he was denied access to Super Eagles players in the dressing room after Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Zimbabwe in Uyo on March 25, 2025.
Dikko said he attended the match alongside Obi and the governors of Lagos, Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom states. However, he explained that the players had requested privacy to hold an internal meeting after the disappointing result.
According to him, no dignitary or official, including himself, the governors and senior NFF representatives, entered the dressing room.
He added that FIFA regulations restrict access to technical areas and dressing rooms to accredited personnel, while other visitors must obtain clearance through the football federation. Violations, he warned, could expose the NFF to financial penalties or put the stadium's hosting rights at risk.
Dikko concluded that football should remain a unifying national platform, insisting that the Flamingos’ achievement belongs to all Nigerians and should not be drawn into partisan disputes.
The controversy followed the Flamingos’ historic 2-1 victory over Japan in Saturday’s final of the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco, making Nigeria the first African nation to win the competition.
Wasila Yakubu
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