Presidency, Obi Clash Over Access to World Cup Champions

The Presidency has challenged Peter Obi’s account of being prevented from greeting Nigeria’s victorious Under-17 women’s football team, the Flamingos, at an airport, insisting that national sports teams should not be drawn into political disagreements.

The exchange followed an allegation by Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), that officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) stopped him from approaching the players after their return from Morocco.

Obi said he arrived at the airport at about 7am on Monday while preparing to travel to Enugu when he noticed the Flamingos, who had just returned to Nigeria after winning the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

He said he asked his protocol officer, Jackie Wayas, to find out whether he could greet and welcome the players. However, he was reportedly informed that NFF officials had objected to his approach and warned that they could lose their jobs if he was allowed to meet the team.

The former Anambra State governor described the incident as another example of what he called the growing culture of toxic politics in Nigeria.

He also recalled a similar experience on March 25, 2025, during a World Cup qualifying match in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, when he claimed he was prevented from greeting members of the Super Eagles after the match.

Obi said political differences should not create hostility or prevent Nigerians from interacting with one another, stressing the need for unity, mutual respect and national cohesion.

However, the Presidency rejected his interpretation of the airport incident, accusing him of attempting to turn an administrative matter involving a national team into a political controversy.

The Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, said the Flamingos represented the entire country and should not be associated with any political party or individual ambition.

Olusegun explained that protocols governing national teams were designed to protect young athletes from political exploitation, commercial distractions and unnecessary public attention while carrying out official duties.

He faulted Obi for presenting what he described as standard security and administrative procedures as political victimisation.

The presidential aide also questioned the basis of Obi’s account, accusing him of relying on unverified information to create a narrative of persecution.

Former presidential aide Bashir Ahmad also criticised Obi’s reaction, arguing that being denied access to the players did not automatically amount to political persecution.

Ahmad, who is the National Director of Media Monitoring and Rapid Response of the City Boy Movement, said security, protocol and administrative considerations could have informed the decision.

He urged the NDC chieftain to establish the facts before drawing political conclusions, adding that national interest should take precedence over individual or party considerations.

The disagreement has placed the Nigeria Football Federation’s handling of access to national teams under renewed public scrutiny, although the federation had not issued an official response to Obi’s allegation as of Monday.

The controversy comes shortly after the Flamingos returned from Morocco following their 2-1 victory over Japan in the final of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

The triumph secured Nigeria’s first title in the competition and made the country the first African nation to win the tournament.

While Obi has described the alleged restriction as evidence of political intolerance, the Presidency maintains that national athletes must be protected from political interference and allowed to represent the country without distractions.

The circumstances surrounding the alleged directive by NFF officials remain unclear, as the federation has yet to publicly confirm or explain the incident.