Former Super Eagles winger and ex-Shooting Stars General Manager Dimeji Lawal has slammed John Obi Mikel over his recent attacks on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Soccernet.ng reports.
Lawal says the Chelsea legend should focus on providing practical solutions instead of repeatedly condemning the country's football administrators.
Mikel made several explosive allegations while on a podcast with former England striker Peter Crouch. The former Chelsea midfielder claimed he had turned down several opportunities to work with the NFF because he did not want to be part of what he described as a poorly run football system.
The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations-winning captain accused the federation of financial mismanagement, corruption and incompetence. According to him, most government funds meant for football do not reach the game itself. Mikel alleged that only about 10 per cent is used for football activities, while the remaining funds are shared among officials.
He also questioned how a reported FIFA stadium development grant worth $1.2 million was spent and recalled the difficult experience of the Super Eagles' Olympic team before the 2016 Rio Games. Mikel said the squad was left stranded because travel arrangements were not completed, forcing him to personally pay for the team's flight to Brazil. He added that he has never been reimbursed for the money.
The former midfielder also raised concerns about player welfare, saying Nigeria cannot dream of winning the FIFA World Cup while basic standards remain poor. He recalled an occasion when Alex Iwobi had to share a bed with another teammate because of poor accommodation arrangements. Mikel further criticised the lack of quality training facilities, youth development structures and sports nutrition despite Nigeria's status as one of Africa's biggest football nations.
He went even further by demanding that the current NFF leadership should resign following the Super Eagles' failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Mikel also called on the Federal Government to intervene despite FIFA's rules against government interference and suggested former Super Eagles captain Austin “Jay-Jay” Okocha as a suitable candidate to lead the federation.
Super Eagles: Lawal calls for action instead of criticism
Reacting to those comments, Lawal admitted that Nigerian football has many problems but argued that constant public criticism would not fix them.
Speaking to The Punch, the former Nigeria international said football administration is far more difficult than many former players believe.
“In the last few years, so many ex-internationals have been given the opportunity to either coach or function as administrators, but in the end, my conclusion is that it is very easy to drive a car with the mouth. You will never be involved in an accident because you can easily press the brake pedal with your mouth.
“A lot of critics can identify problems and weaknesses, but they cannot proffer solutions. We all know Nigeria is not perfect, but talking solves nothing.
“I do not think Mikel has invested in anything football in Nigeria. I am not aware of any football academy or facility established by him, yet he is very loud in his criticism and condemnation.
“Battering the nation that made you and afforded you every opportunity to become somebody is not the best approach. We truly need change, but not by destroying the flag and the country’s image. He has a right to his opinion but he shouldn’t ridicule the flag all the time. He can come and we should all work together by bringing forward meaningful ideas and practical solutions that will move Nigerian football to greater heights.”
Lawal, popularly known as ‘Kabongo', represented Nigeria at every major level, from the Golden Eaglets to the Flying Eagles and the Super Eagles.
He was part of the famous Flying Eagles side that produced the unforgettable “Miracle of Dammam” at the 1989 FIFA World Youth Championship in Saudi Arabia, where Nigeria recovered from 4-0 down against the Soviet Union before eventually reaching the final. Before that, he featured for the Golden Eaglets at the 1987 FIFA U-16 World Championship in Canada.
Lawal also made history by joining Spanish giants Real Madrid in 1989, spending two seasons with Real Madrid Castilla alongside fellow Nigerians Mutiu Adepoju and Christopher Ohenhen. After returning home, he became a key member of Shooting Stars' historic 1992 CAF Cup-winning team before later serving as the club's Team Manager and General Manager.
