● Peter Obi describes alleged incident involving NFF officials as a “new dimension of toxic politics”
Nigeria’s victorious Under-17 women’s national football team, the Flamingos, returned home on Monday, November 9, 2026, after making history by winning the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.
However, their triumphant homecoming has been accompanied by a political controversy following an allegation by former Labour Party presidential candidate and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential hopeful, Peter Obi, that officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) prevented him from greeting the young champions at the airport.
The Flamingos arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at approximately 5:50 a.m. aboard a Royal Air Maroc flight from Morocco.
The team returned with the prestigious trophy after defeating Japan 2-1 in Saturday’s final at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat, becoming the first African country to win the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
The victory also made the Flamingos the first African women’s national team to win a FIFA World Cup title at any level.
Peter Obi alleges he was stopped from greeting the champions
Despite the celebrations surrounding the team’s return, Peter Obi has alleged that he was prevented from personally welcoming the players at the airport.
In a statement shared on his X account on Monday, Obi said he arrived at the airport around 7 a.m. to board a flight to Enugu when he noticed the victorious Flamingos preparing to leave the airport.
He said he instructed his protocol officer, Jackie Wayas, to find out whether he could approach the players and congratulate them.
According to Obi, he was subsequently informed that NFF officials had requested that he not approach the team because they feared losing their jobs if they allowed him to greet the players.
Describing the alleged incident as a troubling development in the country’s political environment, Obi wrote:
“A NEW DIMENSION OF TOXIC POLITICS IN NIGERIA.”
He further stated: “I arrived at the airport at 7 a.m. this morning to board my flight to Enugu. There, I saw the Nigeria Under-17 girls’ team, which had just arrived and was preparing to board its vehicle into town.
“With genuine joy and enthusiasm, I asked my protocol officer, Jackie Wayas, to find out whether I could greet and welcome the team. I was informed that officials of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) had refused and had requested that I not approach them because, if I did, they would all lose their jobs.”
Obi said the experience reminded him of a similar incident on March 25, 2025, when he attended Nigeria’s World Cup qualifying match in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
According to him, although the state governor welcomed him at the VIP stand, he was allegedly prevented from greeting the players after the match because officials feared losing their positions.
He described the two experiences as evidence of what he considers an increasingly troubling atmosphere of political intolerance in Nigeria.
Obi calls for politics without discrimination
The former Anambra State governor argued that sporting achievements should unite Nigerians irrespective of their political affiliations.
He expressed concern that political differences could reportedly prevent public figures from celebrating national sporting achievements alongside other citizens.
Obi stated:“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.
“The new Nigeria we aspire to build must have no room for hostility, intimidation, or discrimination, regardless of political affiliation.
“It must be a Nigeria in which unity, mutual respect, and our shared humanity take precedence over political differences.”
He maintained that the Flamingos’ achievement belonged to every Nigerian and should be celebrated as a national accomplishment rather than viewed through a political lens.
How Nigeria made history
Nigeria’s historic victory was secured through goals from Awawu Bashiru and Oluebube Umejiaku.
Bashiru opened the scoring in the 39th minute with a long-range effort that slipped through the hands of Japanese goalkeeper Kou Kadowaki.
Umejiaku doubled Nigeria’s advantage in the 47th minute after controlling a superb pass from Esther Stephen before lifting the ball over the advancing goalkeeper.
Japan mounted a late challenge, with Fuki Ito reducing the deficit in the 80th minute, but the Flamingos held on to secure a memorable 2-1 victory.
Umejiaku was also named Player of the Match in the final.
The achievement was particularly remarkable considering Nigeria’s difficult start to the tournament, having lost their opening match 2-1 to Poland. The team recovered from that setback and won its subsequent six matches to lift the trophy.
Under head coach Hakeem Busari, the young Nigerians also defeated Brazil in the semi-final, with Queen Joseph and Awawu Bashiru among the goalscorers.
The Nigeria Football Federation described the triumph as a landmark achievement for African football, noting that Nigeria had now won the men’s and women’s editions of the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
Meanwhile, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated the team on its historic achievement.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on November 8, the President described Nigeria’s victory as a landmark moment for the country and African women’s football.
Tinubu particularly commended Awawu Bashiru and Oluebube Umejiaku for scoring the decisive goals in the final, while praising the entire squad, coaching crew, NFF and National Sports Commission.
The President said the Flamingos had inspired millions of young Nigerian girls by demonstrating that determination, hard work and opportunity could lead to international success.
He also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to grassroots sports development and expanding opportunities for young Nigerians, particularly girls.
Champions receive welcome as Abuja prepares for celebrations
Before returning to Nigeria, the Flamingos were hosted to a special reception in Morocco by the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, alongside the Commission’s Director-General, Bukola Olopade, and other officials.
Upon their arrival in Abuja, supporters gathered to welcome the champions, with scenes of celebration involving music, dancing and expressions of national pride.
The team was also scheduled to embark on a trophy parade through major streets of Abuja to celebrate the historic achievement with supporters.
The formal reception for the world champions would take place at a later date because of President Tinubu’s busy schedule.
As Nigeria celebrates the historic achievement of the Flamingos, Obi’s allegation has introduced a separate political debate about whether national sporting events and athletes should remain free from partisan considerations.
The NFF’s account of the alleged airport encounter was not available for this story.
For now, the Flamingos’ achievement remains a defining moment for Nigerian and African women’s football: a group of young players who overcame an opening defeat, fought their way through the competition and returned home as world champions.