Former Super Eagles and Nigeria U-23 coach, Samson Siasia, has alleged that the agent of ex-Chelsea midfielder, John Obi Mikel, offered him a €50,000 bribe to include the player in Nigeria’s squad for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
In a recent interview, Siasia detailed how Mikel declined to participate in the Olympic qualifiers despite being invited to strengthen the squad ahead of a decisive match against Ghana. According to Siasia, the midfielder, who was not a regular starter at Chelsea at the time, turned down the opportunity, citing club responsibilities.
Nigeria went on to qualify for the Olympics with a 0-0 draw against Ghana, without Mikel’s contribution. However, Siasia claimed that once Nigeria had secured a place at the Olympics, Mikel’s camp expressed interest in joining the final tournament squad. The coach alleged that Mikel’s agent subsequently approached him with a €50,000 cash offer to guarantee the player’s inclusion in the team.
Siasia said he rejected the offer, insisting it would have been unfair to drop one of the players who helped the team qualify in favor of someone who was absent during the crucial qualifiers. As a result, Mikel Obi did not make the Olympic squad that went on to win a silver medal in Beijing, finishing as runners-up to Argentina.
The new allegation adds a controversial twist to Mikel Obi’s relationship with Nigeria’s football authorities. In 2024, during an episode of The Obi One Podcast, Mikel criticized the Nigeria Football Federation for failing to provide necessary support ahead of the 2016 Rio Olympics. He revealed that he personally financed the team’s travel to Brazil after the federation failed to release government-allocated funds in time, ensuring Nigeria’s participation in the tournament where they won a bronze medal.
As of the time of this report, neither John Obi Mikel nor the Nigeria Football Federation has responded to the bribery allegations.
This latest revelation has reignited public concerns about integrity, favoritism, and accountability in the management of Nigerian football. The matter is expected to stir further debate among fans and stakeholders, especially regarding how national team selections are made and who gets prioritized in high-stakes tournaments.
