The National Sports Commission (NSC) has demanded an unreserved apology from former Anambra State Governor and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, following the controversy surrounding his alleged attempt to meet Nigeria’s victorious Under-17 women’s national football team, the Flamingos, at the Abuja airport.
The commission accused Obi of politicising the team’s historic FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup triumph, insisting that officials who received the players did not see the former governor anywhere near them at the airport.
The Chairman of the NSC, Shehu Dikko, made the position known in a statement issued on Monday, November 9, 2026, titled, ‘NSC Responds to Peter Obi: Flamingos’ World Cup Victory Must Not Be Politicised.’
The development followed Obi’s allegation that officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) prevented him from welcoming and celebrating with the Flamingos after their return from Morocco.
Obi had claimed that he was at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja when he sighted the victorious players and instructed his protocol officer to find out whether he could meet them.
According to him, his protocol officer was subsequently informed that officials would risk losing their jobs if they allowed him to approach the players.
The former governor described the alleged incident as an example of political intolerance and unnecessary intimidation, expressing disappointment that a moment meant for national celebration had been turned into a political issue.
However, the NSC rejected his account, maintaining that the officials who received the team reported that they did not see Obi near the players or around the international terminal where the Flamingos arrived.
NSC Says Obi’s Campaign Team Made the Request
According to Dikko, the information provided by officials of the NSC and NFF indicated that two individuals wearing Obi’s campaign face caps and other campaign-related clothing approached them to request a meeting and photograph session between the former governor and the players.
He explained that the proposed arrangement could also have involved campaign materials, raising concerns about the possibility of using the team’s achievement for political purposes.
Dikko said the officials declined the request because it was made suddenly without any prior arrangement or formal communication with the relevant authorities.
He added that the players had just returned from a demanding international competition and needed adequate time to rest after their journey.
The NSC chairman disclosed that the Flamingos arrived in Nigeria aboard an Air Maroc flight at approximately 5:30 a.m. and were already tired following their participation in the tournament.
He maintained that the decision to decline the proposed meeting was based on the players’ welfare and the circumstances surrounding their arrival, rather than any political consideration.
Dikko also dismissed the allegation that officials threatened to lose their jobs if they allowed Obi to meet the players, saying nothing in the account provided by the officials supported such a claim.
NSC Questions Obi’s Presence at International Terminal
The commission further questioned Obi’s account of how he sighted the Flamingos at the airport.
Dikko explained that Obi had stated that he was at the airport to board a flight to Enugu, which would ordinarily depart from the domestic terminal, while the Flamingos arrived through the international terminal.
He maintained that airport officials and passengers freely welcomed the players, taking photographs, dancing and shaking hands with them as they celebrated the team’s achievement.
According to him, the media organisations present to cover the team’s arrival also captured the celebrations, but Obi was not seen anywhere around the players or in the vicinity of the international terminal.
The NSC chairman expressed disappointment that the former governor presented the incident as an example of political victimisation without first seeking clarification from the commission or the NFF.
He argued that the controversy had shifted public attention away from the young players’ historic achievement.
Dikko urged Obi to reflect on his comments and issue an unreserved apology to the players for what he described as actions and subsequent statements that unnecessarily drew them into political controversy.
He insisted that the Flamingos deserved to enjoy their moment of national recognition without being associated with the political interests of any individual or party.
Commission Defends Protection of Under-17 Players
The NSC chairman also emphasised that the Flamingos are underage athletes whose welfare, safety and dignity must be protected at all times.
He explained that the team has a dedicated safeguarding official within its technical crew responsible for protecting and guiding the players during official engagements.
According to Dikko, arrangements involving photographs, meetings and other interactions with the players must be properly coordinated to ensure that their welfare is not compromised.
He stressed that young athletes should not be placed in situations where their presence at public events could be interpreted as an endorsement of a political party or individual.
The commission maintained that the same rules should apply to politicians, government officials, businesspeople and members of the public who wish to interact with national teams.
Dikko also acknowledged Obi’s congratulatory messages to the Flamingos during the closing stages of their World Cup campaign.
However, he argued that sending congratulatory messages after a team achieves success is different from providing consistent support throughout its preparation, competition and development.
He noted that the team’s journey to becoming world champions involved more than seven months of preparation, including training camps, World Cup qualifiers, the WAFU tournament and the final competition in Morocco.
The NSC chairman said national teams deserved sustained support from Nigerians, rather than attention only when they returned home with trophies.
Dikko Invites Obi to Make Formal Arrangements
Despite the disagreement, Dikko stated that Obi and other Nigerians interested in meeting or hosting the Flamingos were free to make formal requests through the NSC or NFF.
He explained that such arrangements would allow the relevant authorities to coordinate suitable meeting times around the team’s schedule and welfare requirements.
According to him, the commission was not opposed to Nigerians celebrating the players or showing appreciation for their achievements, provided such engagements followed the appropriate procedures.
He maintained that the Flamingos belonged to every Nigerian, regardless of political, religious or ethnic affiliation, and that their historic victory should remain a source of national unity.
NSC Revisits Obi’s Previous Super Eagles Dressing Room Allegation
The commission also addressed a separate allegation by Obi concerning an incident involving the Super Eagles after Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Zimbabwe in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on March 25, 2025.
Obi had previously claimed that he was prevented from visiting the Super Eagles players in their dressing room following the match.
However, Dikko disputed the account, explaining that the players had declined to receive visitors because they wanted to hold an immediate internal meeting following the unfavourable outcome of the game.
The NSC chairman disclosed that he attended the match alongside Obi and several state governors, including those of Lagos, Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom.
He maintained that no dignitary or government official, including himself and senior NFF officials, entered the dressing room after the match.
Dikko further explained that FIFA regulations restrict access to dressing rooms and other technical areas to accredited individuals or persons who have received the necessary clearance through the football federation.
He warned that violating such regulations could attract sanctions against the federation or affect Nigeria’s ability to host future international matches.
The NSC chairman therefore argued that Obi was not singled out for unfair treatment during the incident.
Flamingos’ World Cup Triumph
The controversy comes after the Flamingos made history by winning the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.
The Nigerian girls defeated Japan 2-1 in the final to secure their first-ever title in the competition, marking a significant achievement for the country’s women’s youth football programme.
Their victory attracted widespread celebrations among Nigerians, with football supporters, government officials and sports stakeholders congratulating the players for their performance.
The team returned to Nigeria on Monday, November 9, 2026, where they received a warm reception from supporters and officials at the airport.
However, the disagreement between Obi and the sports authorities has introduced a political dimension to the celebrations.
While Obi maintains that he was prevented from meeting the players, the NSC insists that its officials did not see him around the team and that the request for a photograph session was made by individuals wearing his campaign materials.
The commission has consequently urged the former governor to apologise, stressing that the achievements of the young footballers should not be overshadowed by political disagreements.
The incident has also renewed discussions about the need for clear arrangements governing public engagements with national sports teams, particularly when underage athletes are involved.