Mikel Obi: African footballers struggle financially because of exploitation from families

John Mikel Obi, former Super Eagles captain, has opened up on the entitlement of family members to the money made by African football stars.

The 36-year-old spoke in a chat with ‘Vibe With 5’ on Thursday.

Mikel remains one of Nigeria’s most successful footballers, having spent a larger chunk of his career with Chelsea FC, where he won one UEFA Champions League trophy, two English Premier League titles (EPL), three FA Cups and one UEFA Europa League.

He retired from football in 2022, following a career that spanned over two decades.

Speaking on the management of finance made by footballers during their active years, Obi said entitled family members are a problem for African stars because “you get the money after you’ve shared it, you’re left with little remaining”.

He added that “they keep having so many kids, and you’re asking who is going to take care of them, but they are looking up to you to look after them”.

The former Eagles captain said when the football stars then refuse to provide, the family members would threaten to go to the press.

“When you come from Africa and make money, it is not just your money. You have all these relatives, cousins and a lot of them. Then your sisters get married to some guy who just wants to get married to John Obi Mikel’s family because my life is sorted. You start looking after the guy. You send money to your sister, but the money goes to him. And he does whatever he does with it,” Obi said.

“When you get the money, after you’ve shared it, you’re left with little remaining. And they keep having so many kids, and you’re asking who is going to take care of them, but they are looking up to you to look after them. You are looking after the kids, the husband and the husband’s family, and it becomes absolutely crazy. For them, you owe them that.

“So sometimes you have to be strong and say ‘enough is enough’. For me, that moment came about five years ago. I was like, ‘No more’. I have been doing that [giving money] since I started playing football. I was giving so much to the family.

“Then they give you this feeling like if you do not do it, then we are going to go to the press. This happens a lot in Africa. Not everybody comes out and speaks about it. You get threatened by your own blood. There are some members of my family that I am not talking to again, but I have come to realise that it is fine. What I wouldn’t accept is blackmail.”

Obi played for the Nigeria national team from 2006 to 2013. During that spell, he scored six goals in all competitions.