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Samson Siasia said he dropped Mikel from the 2008 Olympic squad after rejecting a €50,000 bribe from his agent.
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He insisted Mikel skipped the qualifiers and didn’t deserve a spot.
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Fans remain divided over Siasia’s decision.
Samson Siasia, who once coached Nigeria’s U23 side, has revealed why he left John Obi Mikel off the 2008 Olympic roster, even though Mikel was a Chelsea player.
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In a recent Elegbete TV Sports interview, Samson Siasia explained he refused a €50,000 proposal from Mikel’s agent, who pushed to fast-track the midfielder into the Beijing squad despite his absence in the qualifiers.
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He even reached out to Mikel himself before the crucial Ghana game, but the Chelsea star turned him down, saying he needed to stay with his club.
It was only after Nigeria clinched their Olympic spot that Mikel showed interest.
Samson Siasia recalled the exchange:
“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.”
“He refused, saying he was playing at Chelsea. We drew 0-0 and qualified.”
“Later, his agent offered me €50,000 to include him. I said it’s not about money—he missed the qualifiers, so he wouldn’t replace someone who earned their spot. That’s why he didn’t go.”
So, Nigeria drew 0-0 with Ghana to guarantee their spot at the Olympics.
Meanwhile, match data shows that Mikel started five Premier League games following that qualification and four before.
That decision still divides opinion among fans.
While some applaud Samson Siasia for valuing merit and discipline, others argue Mikel’s top-level experience should have earned him a spot.
Either way, Samson Siasia’s call remains one of the most debated moments in Nigeria’s Olympic football history.
