Former Super Eagles captain Mikel Obi has shared new details about the behind-the-scenes struggles the Nigerian Olympic football team faced before the 2016 Summer Games in Rio and how he personally stepped in to save the situation.
Mikel was selected as captain of the squad after being named in Nigeria’s 35-man provisional list and went on to play a leading role in the tournament scoring in the 2-0 quarter-final win over Denmark.
Although Nigeria lost to Germany in the semi-finals they secured the bronze medal after a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Honduras becoming the first country to win all three Olympic football medals — gold in 1996 silver in 2008 and bronze in 2016.
Speaking on That Peter Crouch Podcast Mikel revealed how financial delays almost ruined the team’s participation and how he had to personally fund the team’s travel to Brazil.
“A budget was signed by the government and someone sitting on top of that money didn’t release that money and we were sitting at the hotel about to fly to Rio.” Mikel explained that the players were left in limbo with no money for flights and growing concern about missing the tournament As captain he decided to act.
“Everybody was thinking how are we gonna get there There was no money to pay for flights there was nothing to do the players were worried and for most of them it was their first time going to a major tournament so I thought why not.”
“I spoke to the coach said how can we find a plane we looked for a plane and I had to pay for it We got there I thought now I’m gonna get reimbursed my money up till today I still haven’t received it.”
Despite never being repaid Mikel said the reward came in seeing his teammates succeed on the Olympic stage.
“The joy that I take out of that is that we got there and those young players were able to get an Olympic medal I know we finished third but it’s still a massive achievement”
“For me to be able to see that for those young players go back home to their families knowing that they got a medal from the Olympics was more than the money So for me I left it for them.”
