The Director-General of the National Institute for Sports, Philip Shaibu, has said former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, could have stood at the airport and waved at the victorious Nigeria Under-17 women’s team, popularly known as the Flamingos, like other Nigerians.

Shaibu made the statement on Tuesday during an interview, while reacting to the controversy surrounding allegations that officials of the Nigeria Football Federation prevented Obi from welcoming the team at the Abuja airport.

The former Edo State deputy governor said he did not consider visiting the airport to receive the players necessary, arguing that the support they received before and during the competition was more important than celebrating their victory afterwards.

Shaibu, however, acknowledged that the players deserved to be celebrated, stressing that attention should also be given to the preparation and support that contributed to their success.

When asked whether NFF officials were right to prevent Obi from greeting the players, Shaibu responded that the former Anambra State governor could have stood at the airport and waved at the team like other Nigerians.

The controversy followed Obi’s allegation that NFF officials stopped him from greeting the Flamingos when they returned to Abuja on Monday after winning the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.

Obi claimed he arrived at the airport around 7 a.m. and asked his protocol officer, Jackie Wayas, to seek permission for him to meet the players but was allegedly denied access.

However, the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, disputed the account, saying officials who received the team reported that they did not see Obi around the players or the international terminal.

Dikko also claimed that two individuals wearing Obi’s campaign face caps and other campaign materials approached officials requesting photographs with the players, but their request was declined because the team needed to rest after the competition.

He subsequently urged Obi to apologise to the players, insisting that their historic achievement should not be overshadowed by the controversy.

The Flamingos defeated Japan 2-1 in Saturday’s final in Morocco to win their first-ever FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup title, becoming the first African country to lift the trophy.