Former Nigeria international forward Chinedu Obasi says he was dropped from the Super Eagles 2014 FIFA World Cup squad because he refused to pay a bribe. Although he played no part in World Cup qualifiers, Obasi was surprisingly omitted from the late Stephen Keshi’s final list despite having impressed during the 2013/2014 season at German Bundesliga side Schalke 04.
Obasi claimed that unnamed officials demanded an unspecified amount as a bribe from him but he refused. He made the revelations in an Instagram live interview with Nigerian journalist Kelechi Bernard on Friday 8th May.
”I was playing for Schalke, I was playing in the UEFA Champions League and I was doing well. Two days before the list came out, I was asked to pay some money if I want to be on the team,” Obasi said.
“I felt like I’ve paid my dues for the country, I shouldn’t be asked to do this. If I was a young player, maybe I would have done that, but it was a bit personal for me and I felt very heartbroken because I was supposed to move from Hoffeinheim to England and I got injured playing for Nigeria at the World Cup [in South Africa].
“After that competition, nobody called me to know how I am doing. I spent a lot of money to get fit. All people talked about was the injury. They don’t care to know what I went through on a daily basis making sure I get my body in shape, to stay healthy.”
“It takes a lot of dedication, money, investing in myself and my body. I went through surgery, did everything I can. Now a competition is coming up, you’re inviting me to the national team. I’ve exhausted my own money and you want me to pay, which is a slap in the face for me,” he continued.
“I said I’m not comfortable doing that. They said I should know the system, and I should act like I’m a Nigerian. I said it’s not about being a Nigerian but doing the right thing.
Currently a free agent, Obasi played for the Super Eagles between 2005 and 2011, and he scored four times in 26 matches. He won a silver medal at the 2005 FIFA U20 World Cup in the Netherlands as well as an Olympic silver medal in Sydney in 2008 as Nigeria finished second
to a Lionel Messi inspired Argentina on both occasions. He also won an Africa Cup of Nations Bronze medal in 2010.
“I’ve kept it close to my chest since 2014 because you’d have unnecessary enemies when you talk. People who played in lower leagues went to that World Cup. I’m not taking a jab at anyone,” he continued.
“If you’re good for the World Cup, then you should go, but I feel like if you have to take the best and at the time, I was playing for a top team, Schalke 04 which was among the top team in Europe at the time.
“Funny enough, after the conversation, it got a bit more personal. They told me that even if I end up going as part of the team, their own agent will negotiate that deal. I said it doesn’t sound good to me.”
There have long been unsubstantiated allegations of bribes and coercion for call ups to the Nigerian national team but this is the first time a high profile former player has come out in the open with such accusations. The Nigeria Football Federation is yet to respond.
