The National Sports Commission (NSC) has accused former Anambra State governor and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, of politicising the Flamingos’ historic FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup triumph, demanding an apology over his allegations that officers prevented him from greeting the crew at Abuja airport.
NSC Chairman, Malam Shehu Dikko, mentioned the fee rejected Obi’s portrayal of the incident as political exclusion, insisting that officers acted within the curiosity of the gamers’ welfare and safeguarding.
In a press release issued on Monday, Dikko mentioned officers of the NSC and Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) who obtained the world champions reported that they didn’t see Obi close to the gamers on the airport.
According to him, two people carrying marketing campaign face caps and different supplies related to Obi approached officers to request a gathering and images between the previous governor and the gamers.
He mentioned officers declined the request as a result of it was sudden, had not been communicated prematurely and will contain marketing campaign supplies.
Dikko defined that the gamers had arrived from Morocco at about 5.30 a.m. aboard an Air Maroc flight and had been drained after their journey and demanding World Cup marketing campaign.
He maintained that the choice was taken to guard the younger gamers and was not politically motivated.
“The players had just arrived early that morning on an Air Maroc flight at about 5.30 a.m. and were tired after their journey and a demanding competition. The officials exercised their judgment in declining the sudden meeting and photograph request at that time,” he mentioned.
The NSC chairman additionally questioned Obi’s account of the incident, noting that the previous governor had mentioned he was on the airport to board a flight to Enugu, which might ordinarily depart from the home terminal, whereas the Flamingos arrived by way of the worldwide terminal.
He added that passengers and different Nigerians on the worldwide terminal freely welcomed, photographed and celebrated the gamers with out discrimination.
Dikko accused Obi of presenting the incident as political intimidation with out first in search of clarification from the NFF or the fee.
He urged the previous governor to mirror on his actions and apologise to the gamers, saying their historic achievement shouldn’t be overshadowed by political disagreements.
“I urge and advise that His Excellency, Mr Peter Obi, reflects deeply and offers an unreserved apology to these young girls for spoiling their moment of glory with his regrettable actions, subsequent statements and media interviews deliberately weaponising a non-issue for political gain,” he said.
The NSC chairman additional pressured that the Flamingos had been minors and had a chosen safeguarding official inside their technical crew liable for defending their welfare and managing entry to them.
He mentioned the fee wouldn’t permit nationwide athletes for use to recommend political allegiance, including that the identical guidelines utilized to public officers, political figures and different members of the general public.
Dikko additionally faulted what he described as inconsistent help for the nationwide crew, declaring that the gamers had undergone greater than seven months of preparation, coaching, qualifiers and competitions earlier than profitable the title in Morocco.
He acknowledged Obi’s congratulatory messages in the course of the closing phases of the match however known as for sustained help for nationwide groups past moments of success.
The fee chairman additionally disputed Obi’s account of an analogous incident involving the Super Eagles after their 1-1 World Cup qualifying draw towards Zimbabwe in Uyo on 25 March 2025.
Dikko, who mentioned he attended the match alongside Obi and a number of other state governors, defined that the gamers had declined to obtain guests of their dressing room as a result of they wished to carry a direct assembly to assessment their efficiency.
He mentioned no dignitary or official, together with himself, the governors and senior NFF officers, visited the dressing room.
He additional defined that the match was ruled by FIFA protocols, which restricted entry to technical areas, together with dressing rooms, to accredited personnel and people cleared by way of the soccer federation.
Dikko warned that violations of such laws might entice sanctions towards the NFF or result in the stadium being barred from internet hosting future worldwide matches.
He however invited Obi and different Nigerians desirous about assembly or internet hosting the Flamingos to submit formal requests to the NSC or NFF for acceptable preparations to be made.
As an instance of private-sector help, he disclosed {that a} Nigerian businessman who sponsored a delegation to Morocco to help the crew in the course of the ultimate donated $50,000 to the gamers instantly after the match.
Dikko mentioned the donation was made with out in search of media consideration or political recognition.
He concluded that the Flamingos’ achievement ought to function a supply of nationwide unity fairly than turn out to be one other topic of partisan disagreement.
“Football is our national asset that brings Nigerians together across ethnic, religious and political differences. Our national teams belong to every Nigerian,” he mentioned.
Nigeria defeated Japan 2-1 within the ultimate in Rabat, Morocco, to turn out to be the primary African nation to win the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup.
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