Mikel Obi Accuses NFF of Corruption in Nigerian Football

John Mikel Obi, the former captain of Nigeria's Super Eagles, publicly condemned the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) for corruption, stating, "I can’t work with them because they’re so corrupt." Mikel's football career spanned from 2005 to 2019, during which he faced numerous disputes regarding bonuses and allowances. Notably, he had to contact President Goodluck Jonathan to resolve a bonus dispute before the 2018 World Cup.

The article details how coaches like Sunday Oliseh and others have also faced issues with unpaid salaries, with Oliseh citing five months of owed wages during his tenure. The NFF has a history of failing to pay players and coaches on time, raising questions about accountability and governance within the organization.

Mikel's statements and the documented experiences of other football professionals underscore a significant crisis of corruption and mismanagement in Nigerian football.