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Mikel Obi Reveals He Funded Nigeria's Olympic Football Team Flight To Brazil - Sports - Nairaland

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Mikel Obi Reveals He Funded Nigeria's Olympic Football Team Flight To Brazil by Morbeta11(m): 11:04pm On Aug 16
Mikel Obi Reveals He Funded Nigeria's Olympic Football Team Flight to Brazil In 2016 Due To NFF's Inaction

Mikel, who was the team's captain and one of the three overage players, recalled the frustrating experience at the airport, where the team waited from morning till night for a flight that never came.


Former Nigerian football star John Mikel Obi has revealed that he single-handedly funded the U-23 Eagles team's flight to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil.

During his podcast, The Obi One Podcast, posted on YouTube on Thursday, Mikel exposed the corruption within the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), stating that he had to personally cover the team's travel expenses to ensure their participation in the tournament.

Mikel, who was the team's captain and one of the three overage players, recalled the frustrating experience at the airport, where the team waited from morning till night for a flight that never came.

According to Mikel, the NFF leadership failed to disburse the government-funded allocation for the team's flight to the tournament, despite the time-sensitive nature of the situation.

With the deadline looming, Mikel took initiative and personally covered the flight expenses, thereby securing the team's participation in the tournament, a decision made nearly eight years ago.

He said, “When I represented my country at the Olympics in Brazil, we had to fly there, and we waited from morning till night, waiting for a plane to take us to Brazil.

“There was no plane to take us to Brazil because there was in-fighting behind the scene of who was going to pick up the tab
.

The FA didn’t want to pick up the tab, the government, I think, released the money, but the FA or whoever the money got into his hands refused to release the money.

So we waited at the airport from morning till night but there was no flight. I had to pay for that flight to take us to Brazil. And these are little things.”

The U-23 Eagles' subsequent bronze medal win in the men's football event at the 2016 Olympics was a testament to the team's resilience.

However, Mikel's revelation shed light on the systemic challenges Nigerian athletes face when representing the country internationally.

This issue was further highlighted by the failure of the Nigerian team to the Olympic Games in Paris, France, to win any medal at the event.

This disappointing performance despite a spending of over N8 billion sparked widespread outrage among Nigerians, who criticised the authorities for their incompetence.

This has led to calls for the resignation of Senator John Enoh, the Minister of Sports Development.

https://saharareporters.com/2024/08/16/mikel-obi-reveals-he-funded-nigerias-olympic-football-team-flight-brazil-2016-due-nffs#google_vignette

52 Likes 4 Shares

Re: Mikel Obi Reveals He Funded Nigeria's Olympic Football Team Flight To Brazil by Sirmwill: 11:28pm On Aug 16
Nigeria for how long

101 Likes 5 Shares

Re: Mikel Obi Reveals He Funded Nigeria's Olympic Football Team Flight To Brazil by oz4real83(m): 7:09am On Aug 17
I watched the minister of sports' interview on political platform, channels TV and was surprised when he said it wasn't his fault for Nigeria's failure at the Olympics, that people were put to occupy various positions and duties, he forgot to tell us who appointed the mumus that didn't do their duties. If you appoint a mumu to carry out a task, when that mumu fails, the responsibility is on the appointer of the mumu embarassed. The minister as well as other Nigerians should always learn to take responsibility for their actions or inaction embarassed

197 Likes 22 Shares

Re: Mikel Obi Reveals He Funded Nigeria's Olympic Football Team Flight To Brazil by NwaNimo1(m): 7:36pm On Aug 17

10 Likes

Re: Mikel Obi Reveals He Funded Nigeria's Olympic Football Team Flight To Brazil by obinna58(m): 7:36pm On Aug 17
grin
It must have been paining him to say it out

22 Likes 2 Shares

Re: Mikel Obi Reveals He Funded Nigeria's Olympic Football Team Flight To Brazil by sleek214(m): 7:36pm On Aug 17
So what? Didn't George Weah fund his own country football team in many tournaments?

80 Likes 11 Shares

Re: Mikel Obi Reveals He Funded Nigeria's Olympic Football Team Flight To Brazil by Vintage001(m): 7:37pm On Aug 17
What a selfless act from obi

438 Likes 33 Shares

Re: Mikel Obi Reveals He Funded Nigeria's Olympic Football Team Flight To Brazil by Obakoolex(m): 7:37pm On Aug 17
Really
Re: Mikel Obi Reveals He Funded Nigeria's Olympic Football Team Flight To Brazil by odeebee: 7:37pm On Aug 17
At times the name of this country na disgrace

42 Likes

Re: Mikel Obi Reveals He Funded Nigeria's Olympic Football Team Flight To Brazil by Treasure17(m): 7:38pm On Aug 17
Mikel my man.

14 Likes 1 Share

Re: Mikel Obi Reveals He Funded Nigeria's Olympic Football Team Flight To Brazil by ARISHEM: 7:38pm On Aug 17
The worst minister of sports Nigeria ever had. Since the government refused to sack him, worse than the current one will continue to repeat in every Olympics and sporting events

11 Likes

Re: Mikel Obi Reveals He Funded Nigeria's Olympic Football Team Flight To Brazil by Tayorshd87(m): 7:38pm On Aug 17
What is the sport minister doing and also why is Nigeria like this 😢

We are very under developed WALAHI .


I pray obi becomes the president in 2090 to change this country for good 🙏

7 Likes

Re: Mikel Obi Reveals He Funded Nigeria's Olympic Football Team Flight To Brazil by Treasure17(m): 7:39pm On Aug 17
Vintage001:
My wife just gave birth to twins
Congratulations

19 Likes

Re: Mikel Obi Reveals He Funded Nigeria's Olympic Football Team Flight To Brazil by Sucre6: 7:39pm On Aug 17
That's what happens when you replace a technocrat with a dullard because of political compensation, the minister of sports don't know jack about technical know-how in sports. What do you expect when you round pegs in square hole?

18 Likes

Re: Mikel Obi Reveals He Funded Nigeria's Olympic Football Team Flight To Brazil by bigdammyj: 7:39pm On Aug 17
Okay.
Re: Mikel Obi Reveals He Funded Nigeria's Olympic Football Team Flight To Brazil by Treasure17(m): 7:39pm On Aug 17
sleek214:
So what? Didn't George Weah find his own country football team in many tournaments?
Yes. He find them. grin you too should go and find Kano pillars

106 Likes 7 Shares

Re: Mikel Obi Reveals He Funded Nigeria's Olympic Football Team Flight To Brazil by Gajagojo: 7:40pm On Aug 17
This is not just an NFF problem it is a Nigerians problem

Every single one of us
If immigration are not begging at the airport it is police on the road
The whole society is affected

32 Likes 2 Shares

Re: Mikel Obi Reveals He Funded Nigeria's Olympic Football Team Flight To Brazil by BigDawsNet: 7:40pm On Aug 17
Make NFF remember we have upcoming 2 matches in September and we must not lose them…

1 Like

Re: Mikel Obi Reveals He Funded Nigeria's Olympic Football Team Flight To Brazil by femi4: 7:40pm On Aug 17
Not a news...it was in public domain then

6 Likes

Re: Mikel Obi Reveals He Funded Nigeria's Olympic Football Team Flight To Brazil by benardtotti(m): 7:40pm On Aug 17
oz4real83:
I watched the minister of sports' interview on political platform, channels TV and was surprised when he said it wasn't his fault for Nigeria's failure at the Olympics, that people were put to occupy various positions and duties, he forgot to tell us who appointed the mumus that didn't do their duties. If you appoint a mumu to carry out a task, when that mumu fails, the responsibility is on the appointer of the mumu embarassed. The minister as well as other Nigerians should always learn to take responsibility for their actions or inaction embarassed

While not holding brief for the minister he has a valid point , the minister can't appoint chairman for the various sport federation, it has to be done within each federation, and if the govt through the minister try to impose ,Nigeria will be banned from such sport ,take for example the case of NFF ,fifa almost banned Nigeria some years back cos of meddling with the nff selection process.

10 Likes

Re: Mikel Obi Reveals He Funded Nigeria's Olympic Football Team Flight To Brazil by razzydoo(m): 7:40pm On Aug 17
Mikel God bless you. God is revealing the future by that singular act of yours. You're our future NFF chairman. cool

7 Likes

Re: Mikel Obi Reveals He Funded Nigeria's Olympic Football Team Flight To Brazil by Softmirror: 7:40pm On Aug 17
cheesy
Re: Mikel Obi Reveals He Funded Nigeria's Olympic Football Team Flight To Brazil by omoadeleye(m): 7:40pm On Aug 17
Okay
Re: Mikel Obi Reveals He Funded Nigeria's Olympic Football Team Flight To Brazil by tricksters: 7:40pm On Aug 17
You are funny, the NFA chairman at that time should be invited by EFCC n jailed without questioning for allowing such to happen.

sleek214:
So what? Didn't George Weah find his own country football team in many tournaments?

26 Likes 1 Share

Re: Mikel Obi Reveals He Funded Nigeria's Olympic Football Team Flight To Brazil by Flakky26(f): 7:41pm On Aug 17
I expect NFF to reimburse mikel back because fund must have been made for the flight.If they dont , this is really an embarrasement.

14 Likes

Re: Mikel Obi Reveals He Funded Nigeria's Olympic Football Team Flight To Brazil by flexyrule(m): 7:41pm On Aug 17
Okay
Re: Mikel Obi Reveals He Funded Nigeria's Olympic Football Team Flight To Brazil by Gajagojo: 7:41pm On Aug 17
sleek214:
So what? Didn't George Weah find his own country football team in many tournaments?
He did so because the government in his country released money and the FA sat on it?

I really don't understand you

34 Likes 1 Share

Re: Mikel Obi Reveals He Funded Nigeria's Olympic Football Team Flight To Brazil by haybhi1(m): 7:42pm On Aug 17
Great gesture from Mikel. Note: government released the funds, but malfeasance occured.

8 Likes 1 Share

Re: Mikel Obi Reveals He Funded Nigeria's Olympic Football Team Flight To Brazil by Verbtips(m): 7:42pm On Aug 17
odeebee:
At times the name of this country na disgrace
nigeria
thank GOD THE FIRST LATER Of my name no dey theregrin

1 Like

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