Mikel Obi: Former Super Eagles Star Opens Up on Traumatic Experience of His Father’s Kidnap

• Mikel Obi has recounted his experience when he learnt kidnappers had held his father
• The former Super Eagles captain was preparing for a World Cup match when he learnt about the situation
• According to him, it took about 20 minutes before he could decide to go ahead with the game

Former Super Eagles captain Mikel Obi has opened up on his traumatic ordeal when he learnt his father had been kidnapped.

The former Chelsea star was notified of the situation hours before Nigeria’s final group game at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

Gunmen whisked away Mr Michael Obi as he travelled along the Maiduguri – Enugu Expressway and the kidnappers demanded a ransom of N10 million.

The son Mikel was getting dressed for the crucial game against Argentina when his brother broke the sad news.

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Mikel said, as per Brila FM:

"It was a horrible experience; two hours before the game, I got a phone call from my brother that Dad had been kidnapped; I didn't know where to start because I was getting dressed for the game, and my phone started ringing then I found out that it was my brother. I spoke with him and asked about their demands.

"I was shivering and wondering who I was going to talking. It took about 20 minutes for me to decide if I was going to play the game.

"I finally decided to play because I was the captain of the team. And it was against Argentina, the last Group game and we needed to win to qualify or go out. So I couldn't share my problem with the dressing room, because it's going to demoralize everyone. I told them after the game.

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"Few times I thought I was going to throw up on the pitch because I kept on taking water. Because I was afraid, my dad could get killed."

It was the second time the dad was kidnapped, but police successfully rescued him.

Mikel among Nigeria’s most decorated players

Sports Brief earlier reported that Mikel Obi won the prestigious UEFA Champions League with Chelsea, as well as two English Premier League titles and is named among Nigeria’s most decorated players.

Despite scoring breathtaking goals and showing off incredible skills, legendary Jay Jay Okocha is not among the top five most decorated Nigerian footballers of all time.

Jay Jay, ‘so good they named him twice’, captained the Super Eagles in the prime of his career and was part of the squad that conquered Africa in 1994.