2018 World Cup: How delayed bonuses forced Mikel to bypass NFF officials

Former Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel has revealed how he personally intervened to ensure Nigerian players received their outstanding bonuses during the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia after months of delays by football authorities.

Speaking on an episode of The Obi One Podcast released on Tuesday and monitored by PM News, Mikel said players were owed money earned from qualifying for the tournament, but repeated promises from officials failed to materialise even after the team had assembled in camp.

According to him, the situation became so frustrating that he bypassed officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and reached out directly to the Presidency.

“Talking about fighting for players’ bonuses, I went above the president of the NFF to get those bonuses, which is what I did a couple of times during the World Cup,” Mikel said.

He explained that FIFA usually releases what is known as “parachute money” ahead of major tournaments, which is meant to be shared among players. In many cases, football federations borrow funds to settle bonuses early and repay the loans once FIFA payments arrive.

“Leading up to the World Cup, we were owed money,” he said. “We had been asking for this money for months before the tournament. They kept telling me, ‘Don’t worry, the money will be sorted when you come to camp.’ I told them to make sure it was ready because the players were already asking questions.”

Mikel said the assurances continued even after the team arrived at camp.

“We got to camp, and I asked again, ‘Where is the money?’ They said, ‘Don’t worry, we’ll sort it out.’”

As days passed without payment, players grew increasingly uneasy.

“A week went by and the players kept coming to me, saying, ‘Mikel, we need this money. Once the World Cup is over, we don’t know if we’ll ever get it.’”

With no solution in sight, Mikel said he contacted the late Abba Kyari, who was then Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari.

“I called him and said, ‘We have a serious issue in the national team. This money was promised and the players need to be settled,’” he recalled.

According to Mikel, the response was swift.

“Within 24 hours, a private plane arrived. The money was delivered to the hotel, hand to hand. Millions of dollars.”

He said he handed the money to the team secretary with strict instructions.

“I told him, ‘Make sure this money does not go to the president or anyone else. This money belongs to the players.’”

The bonuses were calculated and shared among all players who participated in the World Cup qualifiers the following day.

Mikel said his actions angered some top officials, including the then NFF president, who later summoned him to a meeting.

“They said, ‘Mikel, why did you do this? You’ve made us look like idiots.’ I told them I had been asking for this money for months,” he said.

“When you fail, I have to take responsibility because my players need the money. This is not a favour. It’s money that is owed.”

He stressed that the payments were not special incentives but legitimate earnings from qualification.

Nigeria exited the 2018 World Cup at the group stage after defeats to Croatia and Argentina, despite a win over Iceland. The team earned about $16 million in prize money from the tournament, which remains Nigeria’s last World Cup appearance.

Mikel retired from international football a year later, having made 91 appearances for Nigeria. He won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2013 and claimed an Olympic bronze medal at the 2016 Games.