Former Nigeria U-23 coach Samson Siasia has firmly rejected claims by John Obi Mikel regarding the team’s travel expenses to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Mikel had recently revealed on a podcast hosted by ex-England striker Peter Crouch that he personally covered the squad’s flight costs from the United States to Brazil – claim Siasia insists is entirely false.
During the show, Mikel lamented that despite helping Nigeria’s U-23 team reach Rio, he was never reimbursed for footing the travel bill.
The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations winner stressed that although the logistics were supposedly covered in the 2016 sports budget, federation officials allegedly diverted the funds, forcing him to take action to ensure the team made it to Brazil.
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Siasia refutes Mikel’s claim
However, Siasia, speaking to Nigerian journalist Callistus Ebare, countered the story. The gaffer stated that Mikel did not pay for any flight tickets.
He maintained that the only issue the team faced at the time was covering hotel bills – a cost Mikel may have partially settled. Siasia emphasised that Delta Airlines flew the squad to Brazil after concerned Nigerians in the United States intervened to assist the stranded players.
He further explained that businessman Yemi Idowu initially arranged flight tickets. However, the aircraft was too small to accommodate the entire team. This challenge prompted his personal friend to reach out to Delta’s chairman, who ensured that a suitable plane was made available at no cost to the players.
Siasia concluded by challenging Mikel to provide official proof of the alleged payment if he indeed bore the flight expenses. He stressed that transparency was necessary to clear the air surrounding this lingering controversy. This is especially as the story continues to stir reactions among football enthusiasts and stakeholders in Nigeria.
Tags: Samson Siasia, John Obi Mikel, Chelsea, Olympic Eagles, #Rio2016, Delta Airlines, Callistus Ebare.
