Former Super Eagles captain, John Mikel Obi, has called for a total cleansing of corruption from Nigerian football, warning that the sport cannot progress unless integrity is restored to its administration.

DDM notes that Mikel made the remark while speaking during a media chat on Wednesday, where he expressed deep frustration over the systemic rot that has crippled Nigerian football for years.

According to him, corruption has destroyed merit, hindered the growth of local talent, and discouraged genuine investors from participating in the country’s football ecosystem.

“We must root out corruption from Nigerian football completely,” Mikel declared.

“If we continue to allow people with selfish interests to run the game, we will never move forward,” he added.

The former Chelsea FC midfielder, who remains one of Nigeria’s most decorated footballers, emphasized that accountability, transparency, and professionalism must form the foundation of Nigeria’s sports governance going forward.

He lamented that talented players are often overlooked because they lack connections or financial influence, a problem he said has stifled the development of grassroots football.

“Nigerian football is full of politics and favouritism,” Mikel said.

“Many good players are left out because they don’t know the right people or cannot pay their way into teams. That must stop,” he added.

Mikel also highlighted the urgent need for reforms within the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), stressing that leadership positions should be occupied by individuals with proven integrity and technical competence.

“The NFF should not be a retirement home for politicians or people chasing personal benefits,” he warned.

“We need real football administrators who love the game and understand how to grow it,” Mikel noted.

He urged the Federal Government to play a stronger oversight role to ensure that public funds allocated to sports development are properly utilized, especially at the grassroots level where the next generation of stars are nurtured.

Mikel, who captained Nigeria to victory at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), said the country still possesses world-class talent but lacks a functional system that rewards hard work and merit.

He added that Nigeria’s inability to qualify for recent global tournaments like the FIFA World Cup and Olympics reflects deeper institutional problems rather than lack of talent.

“Our boys can compete with the best in the world,” he said.

“But until we fix the corruption and mismanagement in our football system, we will keep failing as a nation in sports,” Mikel concluded.

Football analysts who spoke to DDM agreed with Mikel’s position, describing his comments as a wake-up call to sports authorities to confront corruption head-on and rebuild Nigeria’s image in global football.

They urged the government and football stakeholders to act swiftly, saying Mikel’s remarks reflect the frustration of millions of Nigerian fans who want to see transparency and genuine progress in the country’s football administration.

(DDM) – Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has criticised Mohamed Salah’s lack of defensive contribution during Liverpool’s 3-0 defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

Rooney, speaking on BBC’s Match of the Day, said Salah failed to help his teammates when City’s attack overwhelmed Liverpool, particularly exposing Conor Bradley on the right flank.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that Salah struggled to make any attacking impact throughout the match, registering neither a goal nor an assist as Erling Haaland, Nico Gonzalez, and Jeremy Doku secured an emphatic win for the defending champions.

“Salah is in the team to score and create goals,” Rooney said. “But in big games, you also have to double up defensively.”

The former England and Manchester United captain added that Salah’s inability to track back left Liverpool vulnerable, allowing City’s wingers to dominate key areas of the pitch.

“I think Salah has to come back and help his teammate,” Rooney continued, emphasising that modern football requires even forwards to participate in defending during high-intensity fixtures.

Rooney also weighed in on the controversy surrounding Virgil van Dijk’s disallowed goal, which would have drawn Liverpool level at 1-1 before City ran away with the match.

“It’s a really good header and the goal should’ve stood for me,” Rooney said, expressing disagreement with the referee’s offside decision.

Van Dijk’s goal was ruled out following a marginal offside call during the build-up, a decision that sparked debate among fans and analysts who felt the Reds were unfairly denied a chance to shift momentum.

The defeat marked Liverpool’s fifth loss in 11 Premier League matches, leaving them eighth on the table and widening the gap to eight points behind leaders Arsenal.

For Salah, the scrutiny continues to grow as his form dips amid Liverpool’s inconsistent performances this season. Critics, including Rooney, have called for greater effort and leadership from the Egyptian forward, especially in games where Liverpool’s defensive structure is tested.

As the title race intensifies, analysts warn that Liverpool must address tactical weaknesses and rediscover their attacking rhythm if they hope to remain in contention against Arsenal and Manchester City, who both look increasingly dominant.

(DDM) – Former Manchester United captain, Gary Neville, has tipped Manchester City and Liverpool as the only two clubs capable of denying Arsenal the Premier League title this season.

Speaking on Sky Sports after Manchester City’s dominant 3-0 victory over Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium, Neville praised Pep Guardiola’s side for their commanding performance while cautioning that Arsenal remain the most complete team so far.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that City went ahead through a powerful Erling Haaland header, before a Nico Gonzalez deflected shot made it 2-0 before halftime.

Jeremy Doku later sealed the win with a stunning curling strike from outside the box, sending the Etihad into jubilation.

The result marked Liverpool’s fifth defeat in 11 league matches, leaving them eighth on the table, eight points adrift of leaders Arsenal.

Manchester City closed the gap to four points, intensifying the title race ahead of the festive period.

Neville admitted he initially doubted City’s consistency this season but confessed that their latest performance proved they remain serious contenders.

“I thought Liverpool would be Arsenal’s biggest challenger,” Neville said. “I felt City were too inconsistent, but it looks like I was badly wrong.”

He added that although Arsenal appear stronger on paper, Guardiola’s experience and mentality make City the team no rival would want chasing them in the final stretch of the campaign.

“They’ve still got to convince me they can win the title,” Neville continued. “Arsenal are the better team, but Pep Guardiola and his squad are relentless. You can never rule them out.”

When asked if Liverpool still stand a chance in the title race despite their slump, Neville responded affirmatively.

“I’m going to say yes,” he said. “If it clicks, something could happen. They’ve got firecrackers and world-class players in that dressing room.”

This latest assessment from Neville comes as Arsenal prepare to defend their lead in a season that has seen unexpected twists, from injuries to shock defeats among top sides.

With City regaining form and Liverpool searching for consistency, football analysts predict a fierce three-way title battle heading into 2026, one that could be decided by fitness, depth, and mental resilience rather than just tactics.