Samson Siasia, who previously coached Nigeria’s U23 team, has disclosed the reason for not including John Obi Mikel in his squad for the Beijing Olympics.
The ex-coach of the Super Eagles stated that in doing so, he turned down a bribe of around €50,000 from Mikel’s agent, who was seeking to have the midfielder added to the squad for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Siasia mentioned that he begged Mikel, who was sitting on the bench at Chelsea at the time, to join him in the qualifiers, but the midfielder declined
ccording to him, Mikel picked interest to play in the Olympics after the team qualified without him.
A 0-0 draw with Ghana in the final qualifying game ensured that Nigeria booked a place at the 2008 Olympic Games.
However, facts contradict Siasia’s claim that Mikel was warming the bench at Stamford Bridge as Mikel played four consecutive Premier League games from the start before the Ghana vs Nigeria qualifying game and started five more games immediately after the qualifier.
Siasia told Elegbete TV Sports, “Mikel wasn’t a starter at Chelsea then, he was on the bench. I told him we only had one game against Ghana to play – please come and help us.
“I said if he doesn’t come, he won’t go anywhere. But Mikel refused to come, saying he was playing in Chelsea.
“Nothing happened, we played very well, at the end of the day 0-0, we qualified.
“Going to the Olympics, Mikel wants to come and play. His agent said he would give me €50,000 so Mikel should play.
“I said it’s not about €50,000. He didn’t play the qualifiers, so I will take out someone that qualified us and bring you in? It won’t happen. That’s why Mikel didn’t go.”
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