Former Super Eagles coach Samson Siasia has stirred more controversy after he alleged that he was offered 50,000 Euros for Mikel Obi to play at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Siasia said he turned down this offer to shut out the former Chelsea star as Nigeria went on to reach the Gold medal match against Argentina and Lionel Messi.
“Going to the Olympics, Mikel wants to come and play. His agent said he would give me €50,000 so Mikel should play,” Siasia told Elegbete TV Sport
“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.”
He further explained: “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.”
Last month, Siasia dismissed claims by the former Chelsea midfielder that he paid the flight from the USA for the country’s team to the 2016 Rio Olympics.
