Former Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel has disclosed how he had to bypass the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) leadership to secure players’ bonuses during the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, after months of delays and uncertainty.
Speaking on his Obi One Podcast, Mikel explained that despite repeated promises from the NFF, the team had not received their bonuses ahead of the tournament. FIFA usually provides what is called “parachute money” before major competitions, which federations often use, sometimes by borrowing, to pay players their bonuses upfront, before being reimbursed.
Mikel recounted, “We were owed money for months before the World Cup. I kept asking, but the federation kept assuring me the bonuses would be ready when we arrived at camp. When we got there, nothing had been paid. The players were anxious, coming to me, worried they might never receive the bonuses.”
With the situation worsening and no resolution in sight, Mikel took the matter to the highest level by reaching out to Abba Kyari, then Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari. Within 24 hours, a private jet delivered millions of dollars in cash directly to the team’s hotel in Russia.
“I received the money and handed it over to the team secretary with clear instructions to safeguard it and ensure it remained for the players,” Mikel said. “I didn’t want the money to be handled by anyone else, not even the federation president.”
Mikel’s direct intervention reportedly angered senior NFF officials, who summoned him to a meeting shortly after. He faced the top leadership but stood firm, saying, “I gave you the benefit of the doubt and respected the process, but when you failed, I had to step in because the players deserved their money. This wasn’t a favor—it was what was owed.”
The former Chelsea midfielder also raised concerns about the recent retirement of current Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong, calling it unusual and hinting at unresolved issues behind the scenes. “Troost-Ekong is a passionate leader. To retire just weeks before a major tournament doesn’t add up. There’s more to the story that hasn’t been shared publicly.”
Beyond these issues, Mikel criticized the overall management of Nigerian football, stating that meaningful progress requires a change in leadership at the NFF. “We are wasting the talent and potential in Nigerian football because of greed and incompetence. The people running the federation don’t know how to support or grow our players and the game.”
He urged for reforms to restore Nigerian football to its rightful standing and to better support the players who represent the nation.
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