Former Super Eagles coach Samson Siasia has dismissed claims by John Obi Mikel that he personally funded Nigeria’s U23 team’s flight to the 2016 Rio Olympics. Mikel made the revelation during a podcast appearance with Peter Crouch, stating he had to pay for the team’s travel after government logistics failed to deliver.
According to Mikel, the squad was stranded at their hotel with no travel arrangements, and he stepped in to pay for the flight. “There was no money to pay for the flight. I funded it. I thought I would be reimbursed, but I never was,” he told the podcast.
However, Siasia, who coached the Olympic side in Rio, strongly denied the claim. In a recorded response posted online by journalist Oluwashina Okeleji, he said: “We didn’t pay for any flight. Delta Airlines flew us for free because of the uproar. A friend of mine helped out. Mikel didn’t pay for any flight. If he has receipts, let him show us.”
While acknowledging that Mikel supported the team in other ways, particularly with hotel bills, Siasia made it clear that airfare was not among them. “He did other things, but not flights. I couldn’t pay hotel bills at a point, and he helped. But no, he didn’t handle the flight,” Siasia explained.
The conflicting accounts have reignited discussions within the Nigerian football community over long-standing issues of mismanagement, poor funding, and lack of accountability surrounding national team logistics during major tournaments.
Despite the disagreement, Mikel Obi’s commitment to Nigeria during the 2016 Olympics remains appreciated. He risked his Chelsea career under Antonio Conte to captain the team to a bronze medal finish, solidifying his place in Nigerian football history.