Former Nigeria U23 coach Samson Siasia has alleged that ex-Super Eagles captain John Mikel Obi attempted to buy his way into the 2008 Olympic team with a €50,000 offer delivered through his agent.
Speaking during an interview on Elegbete TV, Siasia recounted how Mikel declined an invitation to join the squad during the final round of Olympic qualifiers, citing his club commitments at Chelsea. “Mikel wasn’t playing regularly at Chelsea at the time, mostly on the bench,” Siasia said. “I told him we had just one match left, against Ghana, and I asked him to come support the team. But he said he was busy with Chelsea.”
Nigeria eventually secured qualification for the Beijing Games with a goalless draw against Ghana achieved without Mikel’s involvement. Siasia explained that Mikel’s absence during the qualifiers influenced his decision to exclude the midfielder from the final squad. “I told him clearly: if you don’t come to help us qualify, you won’t be part of the team,” he said.
The former coach further alleged that prior to the Olympics, Mikel’s agent approached him with a €50,000 offer to secure the midfielder’s inclusion in the final squad. “His agent came to me with an offer of €50,000 for Mikel to be included in the team,” Siasia claimed. “But I refused. It was never about money. How do I drop one of the boys who fought hard to qualify, just to bring in someone who wasn’t there when it mattered most?”
Mikel’s exclusion from the Olympic roster surprised many at the time, given his status as one of Nigeria’s top talents in European football. However, Siasia defended his decision, insisting that loyalty and contribution during the qualifiers mattered more than reputation. “Those boys gave everything during the qualifiers. You can’t just waltz in at the final stage because of your name,” he said.
Although Mikel did not feature at the 2008 Olympics, he would later captain Nigeria’s U23 team at the 2016 Rio Olympics, leading them to a bronze medal finish. His leadership and performance in Rio helped cement his place as one of the most accomplished players in Nigeria’s football history.
As of press time, Mikel Obi has not publicly responded to the allegations. The development has generated reactions from fans and analysts, with many commending Siasia for upholding merit and integrity in his selection process.
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