Former Super Eagles captain John Mikel Obi has disclosed details surrounding the settlement of unpaid bonuses owed to Nigeria’s national football team during the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, attributing the resolution to the intervention of then-President Muhammadu Buhari.

 

Speaking in a recent interview, Mikel recounted that the players had threatened to boycott their opening World Cup match against Croatia due to outstanding bonus payments and appearance fees. The situation, which drew widespread public attention at the time, raised concerns about Nigeria’s preparedness and morale heading into the tournament.

 

According to Mikel, the crisis was resolved after President Buhari ordered the immediate release of funds to settle the players’ entitlements. He revealed that the money was delivered shortly before the team’s first match, arriving via a private aircraft that brought cash payments running into millions of dollars.

 

Mikel explained that the payment helped calm tensions within the squad and allowed the players to refocus on their World Cup campaign. He added that the presidential intervention was decisive in preventing an embarrassing standoff that could have negatively affected Nigeria’s international image.

 

The Super Eagles eventually went on to compete at the tournament, narrowly missing out on qualification for the knockout stages after finishing third in their group.

 

The issue of unpaid bonuses has long been a recurring challenge in Nigerian football, with players and officials repeatedly calling for more transparent and sustainable funding structures. Mikel’s revelation has once again reignited public debate over sports administration, player welfare, and financial accountability in Nigerian football governance.