FORMER Chelsea FC star and skipper of Super Eagles of Nigeria, Mikel Obi, has lampooned the country’s football governing body, Nigeria Football Federal (NFF) over alleged uncomplimentary treatment of football players on national assignments.
Speaking about his experience prior to the 2016 Olympics where the dream team won bronze he said: “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 his podcast.
“There was no plane to take us to Brazil because there was in-fighting behind the scenes 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.”
Further speaking about preparations and activities of the NFF, Obi stated that: “I had to sort out my hotel because the hotel they provided for us were so bad to stay in. I had to move to somewhere more conducive for players to perform.”
Eighteen-Eleven Media