Former Super Eagles captain, John Mikel Obi, has provided a stunning account of how he personally intervened to ensure the national team players received their 2018 FIFA World Cup bonuses, a move that involved going over the head of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and directly contacting the presidency.
The Unpaid Promises and NFF's Failure
Speaking candidly on his podcast, The Obi One Podcast, the Chelsea and Champions League legend disclosed that the NFF failed to pay the players their bonuses for qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Mikel explained that each national federation receives funding before the tournament, which is meant to be distributed among the players attending the Mundial.
According to the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations winner, NFF officials repeatedly assured the invited players that the qualifying bonuses would be settled once they arrived at camp. However, these promises proved empty. Months after the World Cup had concluded, the issue remained unresolved, leaving the players frustrated and unpaid for their efforts in securing Nigeria's spot at the global showpiece.
Bypassing the Federation: A Direct Plea to the Presidency
Faced with the federation's inaction, Mikel Obi decided to take extraordinary measures. The former midfielder revealed that he went above the then NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, to resolve the impasse. His first point of contact was the late Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Abba Kyari.
"I called the former Chief of Staff to the President, late Abba Kyari and told him we had a serious national issue and needed the money to settle the players," Mikel recounted. He framed the unpaid bonuses as a matter of national importance requiring urgent presidential intervention.
The result of that call was swift and dramatic. Within 24 hours, a private jet arrived delivering the owed bonuses in cash. "Millions of dollars. I took the money and gave it to the team secretary. I told him to make sure this money does not go to the president or anyone else. This money belongs to the players," Mikel stated, emphasizing his determination to see the funds reach the intended recipients directly.
Fallout and Broader Criticisms
This bold intervention did not come without consequences. Mikel Obi admitted that the move created a significant rift between himself and the former NFF president, Amaju Pinnick. The act of circumventing the football federation's authority to seek resolution at the highest level of government highlighted the deep-seated issues of trust and management within the NFF.
Mikel's revelations add to his recent criticisms of the NFF's administration. He has previously expressed his displeasure over the Super Eagles' failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, blaming the federation's mismanagement and corruption for depriving Nigerian fans of watching their team at the biggest football stage.
The 2018 World Cup episode, where Nigeria earned $16 million in prize money for their participation, remains a stark example of the perennial bonus disputes that have plagued Nigerian football for decades, with players often having to fight for their rightful earnings.
