Ex-Super Eagles Captain Criticizes Preparations Ahead of AFCON 2025.

Mikel Obi

Former Super Eagles captain Mikel Obi has criticized Nigeria’s preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, launching a scathing attack on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) over administrative mismanagement.

Speaking on his ObiOne podcast, Mikel expressed disappointment with the build-up to the tournament, which kicks off on Sunday in Morocco, highlighting delays in coach salaries and lack of proper planning.

“I’m not impressed at all with the preparation. After everything that happened with the World Cup qualifiers, you would expect things to be better,” Mikel said.
“How do you owe a coach money at this stage? It’s shameless! This is not how serious football nations operate. Nigeria deserves better. Our football deserves better.”

Reports indicated that Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle was owed three months’ salary and bonuses by the NFF. However, the National Sports Commission (NSC) has been paying Chelle’s salary on behalf of the NFF, according to chairman Shehu Dikko.

“The NSC have been paying the salaries of Eric Chelle (Super Eagles coach) on behalf of the NFF even though we’re not a party to the contract. This is part of our support to the NFF,” Dikko told Arise Television.

The Super Eagles are drawn in Group C with Tunisia, Uganda, and Tanzania, opening their campaign against Tanzania on December 23 in Fès. The team lost 2-1 to Egypt in their only pre-AFCON friendly on Tuesday in Cairo.