Former Nigerian international, Mikel Obi says the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) almost scuppered Dream Team’s ambition at the Rio Olympic Games in Brazil.
Mikel’s comments highlight significant issues with the planning and organization of the Nigerian Olympic team’s trip. Despite the financial support promised by the government, logistical and administrative hurdles nearly jeopardized the team’s participation in the games.
The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) winner’s intervention ensured that the team could compete without further delay, avoiding what could have been a major embarrassment for Nigerian football.
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“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,” Mikel said on the One Obi podcast.
“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.”
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COMMENTS
Wow! why could player (Mikel) paid the airline for the players to the Olympic (Brazil). Nigeria FA is sick and may Almighty God help them all.
Hope he is ok. Siasia said it was one of his close pals in Atlanta that paid $300k for the team to be flown to rio because of the connection with chairman of Delta airlines. Till date the man has yet to be refunded that money and put a strain on their relationship. So how Mikel came in to pay baffles me.
Lies bro………..It was truly Mikel who footed the bill for the teams flight to Brazil from there camp base.
I don’t know where you got that Siasia version from
NFF and Olympics committee has been getting away with their corruption for ages yet people are trusting in the system called Nigeria government or whatever. They have not changed and are even worst that is why any money Caf or sponsors pays is always shared and we end up looking like a degraded team with no values. Later some people will be saying football has advanced when our nation is rather the corrupt entity that doesn’t want to advance the team by paying the necessary dues instead of continue stealing.