The National Sports Commission (NSC) has dismissed Peter Obi’s allegation that officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) stopped him from meeting the victorious Flamingos at the Abuja airport, insisting that the former Anambra State governor was never seen around the team.
The commission also called on Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), to apologise to the players, accusing him of turning their historic World Cup triumph into a political controversy.
NSC Chairman, Shehu Dikko, gave the explanation in a statement on Monday, titled, ‘NSC Responds to Peter Obi: Flamingos’ World Cup Victory Must Not Be Politicised’.
He said reports from officials who received the team indicated that Obi did not approach the players or appear anywhere around the international terminal where they arrived.
According to Dikko, the request for a meeting was made by two individuals wearing campaign face caps and other branded clothing associated with Obi.
The individuals reportedly asked officials to allow the former governor to meet and take photographs with the players, an arrangement the commission said could have involved campaign materials.
“The NSC and NFF officials who accompanied and received the team have reported that they did not see Mr Obi near or around the players at the airport.
“According to their account, two individuals wearing Peter Obi campaign face caps and other attire approached them to request that Mr Obi meet and take photographs with the players,” Dikko said.
He explained that officials turned down the request because it was made without prior arrangement and the players were exhausted after their return from Morocco.
The Flamingos had arrived at about 5.30am aboard an Air Maroc flight after their participation in the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.
Dikko said the officials considered the physical condition of the young players and their responsibility to protect their welfare before declining the proposed interaction.
He also rejected Obi's claim that NFF officials threatened that their jobs would be at risk if they allowed him to greet the team.
“Nothing in the account provided by the officials supports the suggestion that their jobs were at risk,” he stated.
Obi had accused football officials of denying him the opportunity to congratulate the players following their historic 2-1 victory over Japan in Saturday's final.
In his statement, titled, ‘A New Dimension of Toxic Politics in Nigeria’, the former governor said he was at the Abuja airport around 7am to board a flight to Enugu when he noticed the returning champions.
He said he instructed his Protocol Officer, Jackie Wayas, to find out whether he could meet and congratulate the players but was subsequently informed that the NFF officials had refused permission.
Obi described the development as another indication of what he called the growing culture of toxic politics in Nigeria.
But Dikko questioned the former governor's account, noting that his stated destination was Enugu, which would ordinarily require him to use the domestic terminal, while the Flamingos arrived through the international wing.
He further maintained that the former governor was not seen among the airport officials and passengers who celebrated the players.
According to him, the team's arrival was marked by scenes of excitement, with Nigerians taking photographs, dancing and shaking hands with the young footballers as they made their way to their waiting buses.
Dikko said media organisations covering the reception also documented the celebrations but did not capture Obi anywhere near the players.
He faulted the former governor for going public with allegations of political intimidation without first contacting the NSC or NFF to establish what happened.
The commission chairman argued that the controversy was unnecessary and had diverted attention from the achievement of the young footballers.
He urged Obi to withdraw his allegations and tender an unreserved apology to the players.
“These young champions should not be drawn into that controversy and never deserved this from Mr Obi,” he said.
Dikko added that the players were minors and that their protection from political exploitation, undue pressure and inappropriate publicity was a major responsibility of the football authorities.
He disclosed that the team had a designated safeguarding officer within its technical crew, stressing that interactions with the players must be guided by their welfare and dignity.
“Our young athletes must not be used to suggest allegiance to any political party. These considerations apply equally to public officials, political figures and other members of the public,” he said.
The NSC chairman also emphasised that the Flamingos' success was the outcome of months of preparation, including intensive training, World Cup qualifying matches, the WAFU tournament and the final competition in Morocco.
While acknowledging that Obi had sent congratulatory messages to the team during the tournament, Dikko said national teams needed consistent support beyond the periods when they achieved major victories.
He maintained that support should extend to their preparation, welfare, competitions and difficult moments.
The commission also invited Obi and other Nigerians interested in meeting or hosting the players to submit formal requests to the NSC or NFF for proper arrangements.
Dikko cited the example of a Nigerian businessman who sponsored a delegation to Morocco to support the Flamingos during the final and donated $50,000 to the team on the pitch.
He said the donation was made without any demand for publicity or political recognition.
The NSC chairman also revisited Obi's allegation that he was prevented from entering the Super Eagles' dressing room after Nigeria's 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying encounter against Zimbabwe in Uyo on March 25, 2025.
Dikko, who said he attended the match alongside Obi and the governors of Lagos, Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom states, explained that the players had requested privacy after the match to discuss the team's disappointing result.
He said the restriction applied to everybody, including himself, the governors and senior NFF officials.
“Consequently, no dignitary or official, including myself, the Governors and top officials of NFF visited the players in the dressing room,” he said.
He therefore rejected the suggestion that Obi had been specifically targeted or denied access while other dignitaries were allowed to see the players.
Dikko further explained that FIFA regulations strictly control access to dressing rooms and other technical areas during international matches.
Only accredited individuals, he said, were permitted into such restricted areas, while other visitors had to obtain prior approval through the football federation.
He warned that violations could expose the NFF to financial penalties or result in the stadium losing the privilege of hosting future international matches.
Concluding, Dikko said football remained one of the few national institutions capable of bridging Nigeria's political, religious and ethnic divisions.
He urged political actors to allow the Flamingos' victory to serve as a symbol of national unity rather than another source of partisan disagreement.
“Our national teams belong to every Nigerian. The Flamingos have earned the country's admiration, and their World Cup victory should strengthen our unity. It must not become another platform for partisan division,” he said.
The Flamingos secured their place in history on Saturday after overcoming Japan 2-1 in the final of the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Morocco, becoming the first African team to lift the trophy.
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