Mikel Obi Criticizes NFF Over Super Eagles’ AFCON 2025 Preparations

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Former Super Eagles skipper John Obi Mikel has voiced strong concerns about Nigeria’s preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), criticizing the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for what he described as poor administrative handling of the national team’s affairs.

The former Chelsea midfielder shared his views during a discussion on his ObiOne Podcast, where he addressed the situation surrounding the team’s readiness just days before the continental tournament begins in Morocco.

Concerns Over Administrative Issues

Mikel questioned how unresolved financial issues involving the team’s coaching staff could still exist so close to a major international competition.

According to him, situations where a national team coach is reportedly owed wages undermine the professionalism expected from a country with Nigeria’s football pedigree.

He stressed that such matters should have been settled well before the team began its preparations for AFCON.

At one point during the conversation, the former midfielder expressed frustration over what he described as a recurring pattern of administrative problems within Nigerian football.

He argued that public controversies surrounding payments and management decisions can negatively affect the morale of both players and coaching staff.

Call for Greater Professionalism

Mikel suggested that the period leading up to AFCON should have been used to demonstrate improvement after the disappointment of Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign.

Instead, he believes the same administrative challenges appear to be resurfacing.

In his remarks, he emphasized that Nigeria’s football reputation requires higher standards of organization and accountability.

He warned that unresolved internal issues can create distractions that ultimately affect performance on the pitch.

Sports Commission Steps In

Amid the controversy, the National Sports Commission (NSC) confirmed that it had intervened to assist with salary payments for Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle.

Reports had suggested that the coach was owed several months of wages and bonuses ahead of the AFCON tournament.

NSC chairman Shehu Dikko explained during a television interview that the commission stepped in to ensure the coach’s salary obligations were met, despite not being directly involved in the contractual agreement between Chelle and the football federation.

He described the intervention as part of broader support for the NFF.

Super Eagles’ AFCON Campaign

Nigeria will begin its AFCON campaign in Group C, where the team will compete against three other national sides.

Their group opponents include:

Tunisia
Uganda
Tanzania

The Super Eagles are scheduled to play their opening match against Tanzania on December 23 in the Moroccan city of Fès.

Mixed Form Before the Tournament

Heading into the competition, Nigeria’s preparations have also included international friendly matches. In their most recent outing, the Super Eagles suffered a 2–1 defeat to Egypt in Cairo.

The result has added to concerns among some supporters about the team’s readiness for the tournament.

Commentary and Sports Analysis

Mikel Obi’s criticism reflects a broader frustration among Nigerian football followers regarding the management of the national team. Administrative issues have periodically affected the Super Eagles, particularly in the areas of financial management and organizational planning.

For a team competing at Africa’s biggest football tournament, stability off the field can be just as important as performance on it.

If the Super Eagles are able to resolve internal challenges and focus fully on the competition, AFCON could still present an opportunity to restore confidence after recent disappointments.

However, continued administrative distractions may place additional pressure on both players and coaching staff as the tournament approaches.