Former Super Eagles captain, John Mikel Obi, has pulled back the curtain on a dramatic financial rescue mission that took place during the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. The ex-international disclosed how he bypassed football authorities to ensure his teammates received millions of dollars in unpaid bonuses, with cash reportedly flown in on a private jet on the orders of the presidency.
Months of Unpaid Promises and Growing Anxiety
Speaking on his podcast, The Obi One Podcast, Mikel narrated that the issue of unpaid qualification bonuses had plagued the team for months leading up to the global tournament. Players had repeatedly inquired about the money, only to receive constant assurances from Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) officials.
The promise was always the same: the funds would be ready once the team assembled for the World Cup camp. Mikel, acting as the squad's leader, relayed these assurances but grew increasingly concerned as the delays continued even after arrival in Russia.
"Leading up to the World Cup, we were owed money. We had been asking for this money for months before the tournament," Mikel recounted. He stated he specifically told officials to ensure the money was available upon the team's arrival, stressing that the players were anxious.
A Desperate Call to the Presidency
After a week in camp with no payment in sight, and with players fearing they might never get their money after the tournament ended, Mikel decided to take radical action. He bypassed the NFF hierarchy entirely.
The former Chelsea star revealed that he directly contacted Abba Kyari, the late Chief of Staff to then-President Muhammadu Buhari. Mikel presented the issue as a serious crisis within the national team that required immediate resolution.
"I called him and said, 'Mr Chief of Staff, we have a serious issue in the national team. We need this money to settle the players. This is what was promised,'" Mikel explained.
The 24-Hour Cash Delivery by Private Jet
The response from the presidency was swift and extraordinary. According to Mikel's account, within 24 hours of his call, a private plane arrived carrying the settlement.
"Twenty-four hours later, a private plane arrived. The money was delivered to the hotel, hand to hand. Millions of dollars," he stated vividly.
Mikel took personal charge of the cash to prevent any potential diversion. He personally handed the money to the team secretary with strict instructions.
"I took the money and handed it to the team secretary and told him to hold it. I said, 'Make sure this money does not go to the president or anyone else. This money belongs to the players,'" Mikel emphasized, highlighting his protective role over the squad's interests.
This revelation underscores the behind-the-scenes leadership Mikel provided and sheds light on the persistent administrative and financial challenges that have often dogged Nigerian football, even on the world's biggest stage. It also illustrates the extreme measures players felt compelled to take to receive what they were legitimately owed.
