Mikel Obi has opened up about .his challenging experience at the Olympics, attributing it to corrupt officials within the Nigeria football federation. Obi, who captained Nigeria at the 2018 World Cup and has represented the country at U17, U20, and U23 levels, led Nigeria to a bronze medal at the Rio 2016 Olympics.
On his ObiOne Podcast, Obi shared,
“When I played for Nigeria at the Olympics in Brazil, we faced numerous delays. We waited all day without a flight to take us to Brazil. There was simply no plane available.”
“The FA didn’t cover the cost of the flight. Even if the money was allocated, the FA or whoever was responsible refused to release it. I ended up paying for the entire team’s flight to Brazil.”
Obi also mentioned the poor conditions:
“I often had to stay at a different hotel because the one provided was so bad. I had to arrange better accommodations to ensure a suitable environment for us to perform well.”
He criticized the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), saying,
“These issues discourage players. The FA needs to improve by appointing competent individuals who understand football.”
Obi continued,
“Many officials lack football experience and are only there due to their positions. They receive funds from the government but withhold most of it, only releasing a fraction. This mismanagement affects the players negatively.”
He believes that the solution lies in appointing experienced footballers to lead the federation.
“Players who have dedicated their lives to the sport, like Kanu and Okocha, should be given the opportunity to manage football in Nigeria. They understand what it takes to represent the country.”
When asked if he would consider a role in reforming Nigerian football, Obi replied,
“We need a team of the right people, not just Okocha or myself, but a group of qualified individuals.”
Mikel Obi emphasized,
“Significant changes are needed to cut out corruption and improve conditions for players.”
