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Mikel Obi reveals the crazy and horrible abduction of his father just before Nigeria’s game against Argentina at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Former Nigerian football captain John Obi Mikel has shared the harrowing experience of his father’s kidnapping, which occurred just two hours before Nigeria faced Argentina in the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Speaking on the latest episode of his The Obi One Podcast, Mikel recounted the emotional turmoil he faced as he prepared for one of the most significant matches of his career while dealing with the distressing news of his father’s abduction.

Mikel expressed his disbelief at the situation, stating, “I just know, kidnappers love my dad. They love my money.”

He described how he received a phone call from his brother informing him of the kidnapping just before the match, forcing him to confront a terrifying reality while focusing on the game.

The kidnappers threatened Mikel, saying they would “shoot the f*ck out of him if you don’t pay,” which added immense pressure on him during a critical moment in his sporting career.

Reflecting on the experience, Mikel noted, “It is a shame, it is sad what has happened… those situations helped me become who I am today – mentally stronger.”

He noted that despite the fear and uncertainty surrounding his father’s fate, he chose to keep the information from his teammates to avoid distracting them from their goal.

“I didn’t know what I was going to do before the game. I didn’t want to let the team down… I thought about it in my room and then I went out there to play,” he said.

After Nigeria’s match against Argentina, which ended in a 2-1 loss, Mikel sought assistance from then-Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, who offered to send a team to help locate Mikel’s father, saying; ‘just give me 24 hours let me send my people down and I will find your dad’.

Ultimately, Mikel had to negotiate with the kidnappers and pay a significant ransom to secure his father’s release. “I had to negotiate and pay a lot of money to get him out of there,” he revealed.

This was not the first time Mikel’s father had been kidnapped; it was a traumatic repeat of an earlier incident in 2011. The former Chelsea star has since then tightened security around his family.