The National Sports Commission, NSC, has accused the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Peter Obi, of politicising the reception of Nigeria’s U-17 women’s national team, the Flamingos, following their return from the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.
The Chairman of the NSC, Shehu Dikko, also demanded an unreserved apology from the former Anambra State governor, accusing him of turning the team’s moment of glory into a political controversy.
Dikko made the demand in a statement issued on Monday, November 9 2026, titled ‘NSC Responds to Peter Obi: Flamingos’ World Cup Victory Must Not Be Politicised.’
Recall that Obi had alleged that officials of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, prevented him from greeting members of the Flamingos when they arrived at the Abuja airport after winning the tournament.
However, Dikko dismissed the allegation, saying officials who accompanied and received the team reported that they did not see Obi near the players at the airport.
According to him, two individuals wearing Peter Obi campaign face caps and other campaign attire approached the officials to request a meeting and photo session between the politician and the players.
He explained that the officials declined the request because the players had arrived early in the morning on an Air Maroc flight at about 5:30 a.m. and were tired after their journey and a demanding competition.
Dikko said the request was sudden and had not been communicated to the Commission or the NFF ahead of the team’s arrival.
He added that the decision was taken with the players’ welfare and not their political affiliation.
The NSC chairman further claimed that Obi had said 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.
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He maintained that passengers and airport officials freely celebrated the players, taking photographs, dancing and shaking hands with them.
Dikko said the Commission took strong exception to Obi’s decision to portray the incident as political intimidation without first seeking clarification from the NSC or NFF.
He stated, “Turning a request for an unscheduled interaction into a toxic narrative of political victimisation shifts attention from the players’ achievement to an individual political grievance.”
Demanding an apology, Dikko said Obi should reflect on his actions and subsequent media statements, which he accused of deliberately turning the incident into a political issue.
He said, “I urged and advised that His Excellency Mr. Peter Obi reflect deeply and offer an unreserved apology to these young girls for souring their moment of glory with his regrettable actions, subsequent statement and media interviews deliberately weaponising a non-issue for political gain.”
The NSC chairman also stressed that the Flamingos are minors and have a dedicated safeguarding official responsible for protecting their welfare and regulating access to the players.
He warned against using the young athletes to suggest political allegiance, adding, “Our young athletes must not be used to suggest allegiance to any political party.”
Dikko further acknowledged Obi’s congratulatory messages during the closing stages of the competition but called for consistent support for the national teams beyond their moments of victory.
“A message at the height of a team’s success is welcome, but it is not the same as sustained engagement with its preparation, welfare and development,” he stated.
He also invited Obi and other Nigerians interested in meeting or hosting the Flamingos to contact the NSC or NFF formally to enable appropriate arrangements.
Dikko also dismissed Obi’s separate allegation that he was prevented from visiting the Super Eagles in their dressing room after Nigeria’s World Cup qualifier against Zimbabwe in Uyo on March 25, 2025.
He explained that the players had declined to receive visitors after the match because they wanted to hold an immediate meeting among themselves.
According to him, no dignitary or official, including himself, Obi, the governors present and senior NFF officials, visited the dressing room.
He added that access to the dressing room was governed by strict FIFA protocols, which required visitors to be accredited or cleared through the football federation.
