SHOCKING REVELATION: What Siasia Said About Mikel Obi

Former Nigeria U23 head coach, Samson Siasia, has stirred up fresh controversy in Nigerian football circles with a startling revelation about former Super Eagles captain, John Mikel Obi.

Pulse Sports report on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, revealed that in a recent interview with Elegbete TV, Siasia claimed that Mikel’s agent attempted to bribe him with a €50,000 (seventy-six million seven hundred forty thousand five hundred naira) offer.

This was reportedly in order to secure the midfielder a place in Nigeria’s squad for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The dramatic accusation sheds new light on Mikel’s absence from that tournament, which at the time puzzled many Nigerian football fans and analysts.

Siasia explained that Mikel, who was then struggling to get regular playing time at Chelsea, was initially invited to support the Olympic team during the final round of qualification but turned down the opportunity.

“Mikel wasn’t playing regularly at Chelsea at the time, mostly on the bench.

“I told him we had just one match left, against Ghana, and I asked him to come support the team.

“But he said he was busy with Chelsea,” Siasia said.

Despite Mikel’s absence, Nigeria managed to qualify for the Olympics after a hard-fought goalless draw against Ghana.

According to Siasia, that decision not to answer the call had direct consequences for Mikel’s Olympic ambitions.

“I told him clearly: if you don’t come to help us qualify, you won’t be part of the team. He didn’t show up and we qualified without him,” Siasia stated.

While many assumed at the time that Mikel had been dropped for tactical or fitness reasons, Siasia has now revealed a deeper backstory.

He alleged that Mikel’s representatives approached him after qualification had been secured, attempting to sway his decision with a monetary offer.

“Before the Olympics, his agent approached me with an offer of €50,000 for Mikel to be included in the team.

“But I refused. It was never about money.

“How do I drop one of the boys who fought hard to qualify, just to bring in someone who wasn’t there when it mattered most?,” Siasia claimed.

This alleged offer came despite Mikel’s established reputation as one of Nigeria’s brightest football stars in Europe.

At the time, his omission from the Olympic squad raised eyebrows, especially considering his experience and pedigree.

However, Siasia insists that his decision was rooted in fairness, loyalty, and team ethics.

“Those boys gave everything during the qualifiers. You can’t just waltz in at the final stage because of your name,” Siasia added.

Siasia’s firm stance earned him praise in some quarters for upholding merit over star power.

He would go on to lead a youthful Nigerian side to a silver medal in Beijing, with the team narrowly losing to a star-studded Argentine squad featuring Lionel Messi in the final.

Interestingly, Mikel eventually got his Olympic moment in 2016.

He captained the national U23 team to a bronze medal at the Rio Games, earning praise for his leadership and on-field performances.

But the shadows of 2008 continue to follow him, especially in light of these fresh allegations.

As of now, Mikel has not issued any public statement in response to Siasia’s claims.

The silence leaves many questions unanswered and fans divided, with some defending Mikel’s reputation and others applauding Siasia’s unwavering principle.

For many African football followers, particularly Nigerians, this revelation reopens a debate on transparency, meritocracy, and the politics behind national team selections.

It also raises broader questions about how young, local talents can be overshadowed by big names, and the importance of integrity in sports administration.

Whether or not Mikel eventually addresses these allegations, the incident underscores the difficult decisions coaches face.

It also underscores the moral lines they must navigate when building a team to represent a nation on the global stage.

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