- Mikel Obi calls for government intervention in NFF due to mismanagement and alleged corruption, criticizing incompetent leaders and misappropriation of funds
- The former Super Eagles captain argues that action must be taken to remove those in charge who fail to improve Nigerian football
Former Super Eagles captain John Mikel Obi has called for government intervention in the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) due to ongoing issues and alleged corruption. Mikel, who has been vocal about the state of Nigerian football, criticized the NFF for its mismanagement and questioned the competence of its leaders.
Mikel expressed his frustration on his Obi-One podcast, stating, “The NFF needs to ensure they have the right people running the Federation. Many in charge lack football knowledge and are there merely due to their election.”
He accused the NFF of misappropriating funds allocated by the government, claiming that only a small portion is used for football operations while the majority is diverted for personal gain. “They release maybe 10% of the funds, with the rest being shared among themselves. This leaves players suffering due to inadequate facilities, flights, and hotels,” Mikel said. He stressed the need for a thorough examination of these issues and the eradication of corruption.
Despite FIFA’s regulations against government interference in football administration, Mikel argued that intervention might be necessary to prevent further damage to the sport in Nigeria. “The government needs to step in. While FIFA says the government cannot interfere, if those in charge are incompetent and failing to improve things, action must be taken to remove them. People who truly understand what it means to represent the country should be in charge, not those who are simply there to embezzle funds.”