The return of Nigeria’s historic FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup-winning team to Abuja has been overshadowed by a political controversy after Peter Obi accused officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) of preventing him from welcoming the players at the airport.
The former Anambra State governor alleged that he was stopped from approaching the Flamingos despite asking for permission to greet the team, which arrived in Nigeria on Monday following its triumph in Morocco.
Obi made the allegation in a statement released on Monday titled “A New Dimension of Toxic Politics in Nigeria”, in which he criticised what he described as the growing intrusion of political divisions into everyday national life.
According to him, he arrived at the airport at 7 am to board a flight to Enugu when he noticed the returning national team. He said he subsequently asked his Protocol Officer, Jackie Wayas, to establish whether he could greet and congratulate the players.
However, he claimed the response from the NFF officials was negative.
“I was informed that officials of the Nigerian Football Federation had refused and had requested that I not approach,” he said.
Obi recalls another encounter involving Nigerian footballers
The allegation also brought back memories of a similar experience he said he had encountered during Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign in Uyo on March 25, 2025.
Obi explained that the governor of Akwa Ibom State had welcomed him at the VIP stand before the match, but he was allegedly prevented from greeting the players afterwards.
“Following the match, other government officials went to greet the players, but I was again prevented from doing so. I was told by the officials that they would lose their jobs if I proceeded,” he said.
For Obi, the two incidents represent a troubling pattern in which political differences are allowed to interfere with ordinary interactions, including opportunities to celebrate national sporting achievements.
He described the situation as evidence of what he called the country’s increasingly toxic political environment, arguing that the atmosphere had deteriorated since 2025.
“It is deeply troubling to witness the extent of toxic politics into which our nation has descended since 2025. Each year appears to bring further deterioration. This reflects how deeply Nigeria has been affected,” he said.
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The former governor called for a country where political affiliations would not determine how citizens relate to one another, stressing the importance of unity, mutual respect and shared humanity.
NFF yet to respond as Flamingos return from Morocco
The NFF had not publicly responded to Obi’s allegation as of the time of filing the report. The circumstances surrounding the alleged restriction at the airport therefore remain unclear.
The controversy comes as Nigeria celebrates one of the biggest achievements in the history of its women’s football.
The Flamingos returned to Abuja on Monday after defeating Japan 2-1 in Saturday’s final at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat, Morocco, to win their first FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup title.
Awawu Bashiru opened the scoring before Oluebube Umejiaku doubled Nigeria’s advantage early in the second half. Japan pulled one back through Fuki Ito, but the Nigerian girls held on to secure victory.
The triumph made Nigeria the first African nation to win the competition, giving the team a historic place in the tournament’s history.
Yet, while the Flamingos’ homecoming should have been centred on their remarkable achievement, Obi’s account has introduced a fresh debate about the relationship between politics, national institutions and the celebration of Nigerian sporting success.
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