Speaking on his Obi One Podcast released on Tuesday, the ex-Chelsea midfielder recounted how prolonged delays by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) forced him to bypass football authorities and seek help from the office of then President Muhammadu Buhari to secure players’ entitlements.
Mikel explained that, months before the World Cup, players were repeatedly assured that outstanding bonuses would be paid once they arrived in camp. Those assurances, he said, failed to materialise even after the team had assembled, heightening anxiety among players who feared they might never be paid once the tournament ended.
According to him, football governing bodies typically rely on FIFA’s advance funding—often referred to as “parachute money”—to meet such obligations ahead of major tournaments, pending later reimbursement. In Nigeria’s case, however, the process stalled.
As captain, Mikel said he bore the brunt of players’ frustrations and, with no resolution in sight, decided to escalate the matter beyond the NFF. He contacted Abba Kyari, then Chief of Staff to President Buhari, to outline the situation and stress the urgency of settling the players.
The response, he revealed, was swift. Within 24 hours, a private jet reportedly delivered millions of dollars in cash directly to the team’s hotel in Russia. Mikel said the money was immediately handed over to the team secretary for safekeeping, with clear instructions that it was strictly for the players.
The intervention, however, did not sit well with senior football officials. Mikel disclosed that he was summoned to a meeting by NFF leadership days later, where he was accused of undermining their authority. He said he stood his ground, insisting that the bonuses were a contractual obligation, not a favour, and that his priority was the welfare of his teammates.
Beyond revisiting the 2018 episode, the former midfielder also raised concerns about ongoing internal issues within Nigerian football. He questioned the circumstances surrounding William Troost-Ekong’s recent retirement from international football, describing the timing—weeks before a major tournament—as unusual and indicative of deeper, unresolved problems.
Mikel further criticised the broader state of football administration in the country, arguing that Nigeria’s abundance of talent continues to be undermined by poor governance and misplaced priorities. He maintained that meaningful progress would remain elusive unless structural changes are made at the NFF, particularly in how players are treated and managed.
His comments have reignited debate over governance, accountability and player welfare in Nigerian football, issues that have repeatedly surfaced across different generations of the national team.