'Do that now' - Angry Mikel Obi slams corrupt NFF, demands comfortable treat for Super Eagles ahead Gabon tie

Super Eagles and Chelsea legend John Mikel Obi has added his powerful voice to the growing crisis surrounding the Nigerian national team, directly challenging the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) to take immediate action to ensure player welfare ahead of the crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup playoffs.

Mikel’s intervention comes in the wake of the Super Eagles’ reported boycott of a training session in Morocco over unpaid bonuses, confirming his earlier warnings about the necessity of eliminating distractions.

Speaking in a video clip posted by his ObiOne Podcast, the former captain acknowledged the deep-rooted issues in Nigerian football administration but insisted that the immediate priority must be the team's mental and physical readiness.

Mikel did not hold back in his criticism of the NFF's broader governance issues, linking the current problems to larger financial mismanagement:

"I have seen so many pictures, so many conversations about FIFA giving $1.2 million to the NFF to build stadiums and all the corruption that’s gone on, whatever it is,” Mikel said. “The corruption has to be rooted out of the game if we want to go forward. It has to be rooted out."

However, he stressed that the pursuit of justice must not overshadow the immediate objective of World Cup qualification, as initially reported by Pulse Sports Nigeria.

"But now is not the best time to discuss those. Now is the time for us to focus on the game at hand, which is playing Gabon to get to the next round. It’s a difficult task for us.”

Mikel’s central demand was a clear instruction to the NFF leadership: resolve the players' concerns immediately to guarantee a conducive environment for performance.

The legend emphasised that the players must be made to feel comfortable and motivated if Nigeria is to avoid the "crime" of missing a second consecutive World Cup.

“Again, when you talk about making the players feel comfortable when they come back to play, now is the right time. Whatever the NFF have to do to make those players come back, feel comfortable to perform, give their best for the country, they have to do that right now. This is the time.”

Mikel's strong words place immense pressure on the NFF to act quickly, confirming the players' demands are not merely about money but about the fundamental provision of support and respect required of a national team competing at the highest level.

With the crucial playoff match against Gabon fast approaching, the focus remains firmly on whether the NFF can heed the veteran's call and resolve the issues to allow the Super Eagles to concentrate on football.