Mikel Denies Demanding Payment In Dollars For Eagles

The players were paid N1 million each as win bonus for the African Cup of Nations qualifying victory over Tanzania, a difference of N1.35 million if the five thousand dollars is converted to naira on the unofficial market.

Following Nigeria’s 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier victory against Zambia, reports emerged that the Chelsea midfielder demanded they get their allowances in dollars.

However, the Super Eagles captain has now rubbished the report, claiming the team never made such a demand.

“I never granted any such interview and the team has not made that kind of demand at any time to the football federation,” Mikel told thenff.com.

Mikel is expected to be in action for the Super Eagles when they host Algeria on matchday 2 of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Uyo on 12 November.

He led the team to an important 2-1 away win against Zambia in Ndola on 9 October.

Meanwhile, according a report by Africanfootball.com, some officials of the Nigeria football team to the Rio Olympics have received their share of the $390,000 donated by a Japanese surgeon to the bronze-winning squad at the games.

It was gathered that each of the officials received $14,000.

It was further learnt that the cash backup for the cheques has finally been received more than two months after the donation was made and already a number of officials have received their payments.

Recall, that during the Rio Olympic Games in Brazil, a wealthy Japanese surgeon, Katsuya Takasu, was highly impressed with the performance of the Samson Siasia-led team, despite the many hurdles they faced and wrote out two cheques, one in favour of Siasia and the other for Chelsea star Mikel Obi.

The team agreed that the players be paid by Mikel, while Siasia sort out the officials. The documentation for the cheque in Mikel’s name is expected to be completed this.

Both players and officials had earlier expressed fears after the long delay it took to cash the cheques.

Nigeria finished third at the Rio Olympics to complete a football Olympics medals set – Gold in 1996, silver in 2008 and bronze in 2016.