Former Super Eagles captain and Chelsea who last played for Kuwait SC John Mikel Obi, has called out the corruption crippling Nigerian football, saying the sport cannot progress unless the system is cleansed of malpractices.
Speaking on his ObiOne Podcast, Mikel referenced reports claiming FIFA granted the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) $1.2 million for stadium projects and questioned how the funds were managed.
“I’ve seen pictures and conversations about FIFA giving $1.2 million to the NFF for stadiums. Have you seen that? Corruption must be rooted out of the game,” Mikel said.
However, he urged that the immediate focus should shift toward Nigeria’s crucial World Cup playoff matches, emphasizing unity and performance over politics.
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“Now is not the time for blame; we must focus on winning the playoffs and qualifying. Whatever the NFF has to do to make the players comfortable and motivated, they must do it,” he added.
Mikel also advised that Victor Osimhen should not be over-relied upon, stressing that Nigeria’s success will depend on teamwork rather than one player’s brilliance.
“Don’t depend on Victor Osimhen alone. The team as a whole needs to perform. This is one of the biggest games of our lives. We simply have to qualify for the World Cup,” he concluded.
