Obi says NFF officials stopped him from greeting world champion Flamingos

Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has accused officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) of stopping him from congratulating the Flamingos after their World Cup triumph.
What Obi said
Obi said he was at the airport in Abuja at about 7am on Monday, 9 November 2026, to catch a flight to Enugu, when he saw the Flamingos, who had just arrived with the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup trophy. He said he asked his protocol officer to find out if he could go over and welcome the players, but was told that NFF officials had refused, reportedly warning that anyone who allowed him near the team would lose their job.
'Not the first time'
Obi said this was not the first time he had been prevented from supporting a national team. He recalled travelling to Uyo in March 2025 to watch a World Cup qualifier against Zimbabwe, and said that although he was warmly received before the match, he was not allowed the same access afterwards.
Background
The Flamingos beat Japan 2-1 in the final in Rabat on Saturday to become the first African team to win the tournament, and were welcomed back to Nigeria on Monday. President Bola Tinubu and the First Lady have both congratulated the team.
What happens next
The NFF had not publicly responded to Obi's claim at the time of writing.
- Obi says he saw the Flamingos at Abuja airport.
- He says NFF officials refused his request to greet them.
- The NFF has not responded.

