Siasia hits Mikel’s Olympic flight claim as false, dares to provide evidence

The former Nigeria U 23 coach, Siasia, has strongly denied the recent claims of Mikel Obi, who claimed that he personally paid the team’s flight to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

In a strong refutation, Siasia dismissed the statement as inaccurate and questioned Mikel to provide evidence of said payment.

Mikel, in a recent interview about “that Poter Crouch podcast”, claimed that he financed a chartered flight for the Nigerian team after they were stranded due to financial difficulties within the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

“There was no money to pay a flight, the players were worried … I talked to the coach, we were looking for a plane and I had to pay it,” Mikel said, added that he has not yet been reimbursed.

In reaction to the comments, Siasia categorically denied the account, stating that the flight of the team to Brazil was organized and sponsored by Delta Air Lines.

“Mikel Obi did not pay flight money … None happened,”

Siasia said. “The Delta airline took us to Brazil for free. If Mikel has a receipt in that sense, allow him to show the Nigerians that he was the one who paid.”

Siasia acknowledged that Mikel played a support role during the tournament by covering some hotel expenses, but emphasized that he was not involved in ensuring team’s air transport.

In addition, he clarified that an initial agreement that involves a private jet provided by the Yemi Idowu businessman was abandoned after the plane proved to be too small to accommodate the team.

The problem was finally solved when Delta Air Lines intervened and offered a larger plane at no cost to the team.

Neither Mikel Obi nor the NFF have issued a follow -up statement in response to Siasia’s refutation yet.