Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has alleged that officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) prevented him from greeting members of Nigeria’s Under-17 women’s national football team, the Flamingos, at an airport over fears of losing their jobs.

Obi said he was informed that the officials had warned against allowing him to approach the players, threatening that they would all lose their jobs if he greeted the team.

The former Anambra State governor disclosed this in a post on X on Monday while expressing concern over what he described as the growing culture of toxic politics in Nigeria.

Obi said he arrived at the airport around 7 a.m. to board a flight to Enugu when he sighted the Flamingos, who had just arrived and were preparing to leave the airport.

He said he subsequently asked his Protocol Officer, Jackie Wayas, to find out whether he could greet and welcome the players.

However, he alleged that NFF officials rejected the request and instructed that he should not approach the team.

Obi recalled that the incident was not the first time he had been prevented from interacting with members of a Nigerian national team.

He recalled that on March 25, 2025, when he travelled to Uyo for a World Cup qualifying match, the state governor warmly received him at the VIP stand.

However, he alleged that after the match, when other government officials went to greet the players, he was prevented from doing the same.

Manchester City suffered a shock 3-1 defeat at Nottinghaam Forest in the English Premier League on Saturday night.

Liam Delap’s brace and Jair Cunha’s opener ensured Forest claimed maximum points against the fumbling former EPL champions riddled with defensive lapses.

Forest took the lead on eight minutes through defender Cunha who dispossessed Josko Gvardiol close to the penalty area, before slotting a low shot beyond the goalkeeper from just inside the box.

Delap doubled the lead with a rasping drive on 18 minutes after he stole the ball from City’s hesitant players.

The visitors reduced the deficit on 52 minutes from Ryan Cherki’s half-voley that nestled into the top of the net, but a defiant Forest regained the two-goal lead on 72 minutes through Delap.

The former Chelsea striker completed his brace with a piledriver into the top corner from Morgan Gibbs-White’s pass off a counter attack.

Defeat is Manchester City’s third consecutive since their seven-match winning run ended at Aston Villa.

City also lose three on the bounce for the first time since 2024, and are six points off the pace behind EPL leaders Arsenal.Nottingham Forest however climb out of the relegation waters with a first win in six matches.

Nigeria’s U-17 women’s national team, the Flamingos, have defeated Japan 2-1 to win the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.

The Flamingos secured the historic victory on Saturday at the Mohammed VI Football Complex, Pitch 3, in Rabat, to claim their first title in the competition.

Awawu Bashiru opened the scoring for Nigeria in the 39th minute with a long-range effort that slipped through the hands of the Japanese goalkeeper.

Nigeria doubled their advantage shortly after the restart, with Oluebube Umejiaku finding the net in the 47th minute to put the Flamingos in control.

Japan fought back and reduced the deficit through Fuki Ito in the 80th minute.

The Japanese side pushed for an equaliser, but Nigeria held on to secure the 2-1 victory. The Flamingos also came close to extending their lead late in the game, striking the crossbar from a corner kick.