Former U23 Coach Samson Siasia Alleges Mikel Obi Offered $50,000 to Join 2008 Olympic Squad
In a revealing interview with Elegbete TV on YouTube, former Nigeria U23 national team coach Samson Siasia disclosed that ex-Super Eagles captain John Mikel Obi offered him $50,000 to secure a spot in Nigeria’s squad for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, according to BSNSports.com.ng. Siasia shared that Mikel expressed interest in joining the team only after they had qualified without his participation.
Siasia recounted, “Mikel wasn’t a regular starter at Chelsea then; he was mostly on the bench. I told him we had only one match left against Ghana, and I pleaded with him to come and help us.” This conversation highlights the challenges Siasia faced in assembling the Olympic squad, with Mikel’s late interest raising questions about his commitment at the time.
Also see: NFF Approves Tenure Extension for NPFL, NNL and NLO Boards to Sept 2026
In a separate controversy, Siasia faced scrutiny in 2019 when FIFA found him “guilty of having accepted that he would receive bribes in relation to the manipulation of matches.” This violation of FIFA’s code of ethics led to a lifetime ban from all football-related activities and a fine of 50,000 Swiss francs ($54,000). The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) later reduced the sanction to a five-year ban, offering Siasia some relief but leaving a mark on his storied career as a multiple Olympic medalist.
