Sports

Mikel Obi Discloses How He Personally Funded Nigeria’s Olympic Team’s Flight to Brazil in 2016

Published by Tope Fakinlede on August 17th, 2024.

Mikel Obi Discloses How He Personally Funded Nigeria’s Olympic Team’s Flight to Brazil in 2016

Mikel Obi

Former Nigerian football star John Mikel Obi has revealed that he personally financed the U-23 Eagles’ flight to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro due to the Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) inaction.

On his YouTube podcast, *The Obi One Podcast*, Mikel shared his frustrations about the situation. He recounted how the team, of which he was the captain and one of the three overage players, endured a prolonged wait at the airport from morning until night, only to find that no flight had been arranged.

Mikel exposed issues of mismanagement within the NFF, claiming that the leadership failed to release government funds allocated for the team’s travel. With the deadline fast approaching and no resolution in sight, Mikel took it upon himself to cover the costs, ensuring the team’s participation in the games.

He stated, “When we were preparing to go to the Olympics in Brazil, we waited all day at the airport for a plane that never came. The FA and the government had funds allocated, but the money wasn’t released due to internal conflicts.”

Despite these challenges, the U-23 Eagles went on to win a bronze medal in the men’s football event, demonstrating their determination and resilience. Mikel’s account highlights ongoing systemic issues faced by Nigerian athletes, which were underscored by the team’s recent underperformance at the Paris Olympics.

The Nigerian team’s failure to secure any medals in Paris, despite a budget exceeding N8 billion, has sparked significant criticism of the authorities and calls for the resignation of Senator John Enoh, the Minister of Sports Development.