Former Chelsea midfielder, Mikel Obi has lambasted the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) over their inability to pay the national team players’ winning bonuses.
The Super Eagles ahead of their game against Gabon in the 2026 World Cup play-offs boycotted training over unpaid bonuses.
Reacting to the news, Obi accused the NFF of engaging in corruption and questioned how the funds they receive from the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) are being utilized.
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He urged the federation to settle the outstanding payments so the players can focus on the game.
“I’ve seen so many pictures, so many conversations about FIFA giving $1.2 million to the NFF to build stadiums. Have you seen that? And all the corruption that’s gone on and not gone on, whatever it is. The corruption has to be rooted out of the game.
“If we want to go forward, it has to be rooted out. Whatever the NFF have to do to make those players come back, feel comfortable to perform, give their best for the country. They have to do that right now. This is the time,” he said on The Obi Podcast.
Speaking about the game against Gabon, the former Super Eagles skipper charged the players to secure qualification and not depend too much on Victor Osimhen.
“Now is the time for us to focus on the game at hand, which is playing the playoff game to get to the next round of the playoffs. And then win that, and then we’ll see you in March. It’s a mountain to climb, and we have to make sure we are ready.”
“Again, when you talk about making the players feel comfortable when they come back to play, the whole team has to perform. Don’t depend on Victor Osimhen alone. The team, everybody, needs to perform. Find the motivation in you, knowing that this is the biggest game of our lives. We have to qualify for the World Cup. There are no two ways about it,” he added.
Meanwhile, the players have resumed training for the Gabon game after receiving their unpaid bonuses.
Watch the interview below:
🇳🇬 ‘THE CORRUPTION HAS TO STOP’@mikel_john_obi has had enough. 😡
The quality on the pitch isn’t in doubt!@NGSuperEagles pic.twitter.com/LolwSyCsEC
— The Obi One Podcast (@obionepodcast) November 12, 2025
SB/JE
Meanwhile, watch the feature about Swedru All Blacks’ journey from the Division One to the GPL below
