Former Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel has disclosed that he reached out to the office of Nigeria’s late President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure players received their bonuses after the 2018 World Cup in Russia, following prolonged delays by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
Speaking on an episode of The Obi One Podcast released on Tuesday, Mikel said the players were owed money earned from qualifying for the tournament, despite repeated assurances from officials that payments would be settled once the team assembled.
According to him, FIFA releases advance funds—often referred to as “parachute money”—before major tournaments, which federations typically use to pay players, later reimbursing lenders when FIFA disburses the full amount.
“Before the World Cup, we were owed money,” Mikel said, adding that months of requests produced only promises. “They kept telling me the issue would be resolved when we got to camp.”
He explained that the assurances continued even after arrival, but days passed without payment, increasing players’ anxiety about whether they would ever receive what they were owed.
With no progress, Mikel said he contacted then–Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, to intervene. “I told him we had a serious issue in the national team and that the players needed to be paid what was promised,” he recalled.
Mikel said that within 24 hours, funds were delivered to the team’s hotel via a private aircraft. He handed the money to the team secretary with strict instructions that it be kept for the players alone. The bonuses were then calculated and paid to all players involved in the World Cup qualifiers the following day.
He added that the move angered senior officials, including the NFF president at the time, who questioned his actions. Mikel said he stood by his decision, stressing that the payments were not gifts but money the players had earned.
Nigeria exited the 2018 World Cup at the group stage after losses to Croatia and Argentina and a win over Iceland. The team earned $16 million in prize money, and the tournament remains Nigeria’s most recent World Cup appearance.
Mikel retired from international football a year later, having made 91 appearances for Nigeria, winning the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and an Olympic bronze medal in 2016.
0 Comments