John Obi Mikel reveals overbearing family extortion from African players

Former Nigeria international John Obi Mikel has expressed his opinions about how African families take advantage of their successful members.

The former Super Eagles captain remain one of the most decorated players in Nigeria and became successful early, beginning at Norwegian club Lyn at 17, before he later joined Chelsea for £16 million and was one of the club’s highest-paid players during his 11-year stay there.

“You get threatened by your own blood, your own,” he said on Rio Ferdinard’s Vibes With Five Podcast.

“When you come from Africa, and this is something I don’t think we speak a lot about, when you make money, it’s not your money.

“You have all these relatives, cousins, whatever you call it. Yeah. You know, and your sisters, they go off and they get married to some guy who just wants to get married to John Obi Mikel’s family because my life is sorted. And then you start looking after this guy.

“Before you know it, you’re looking at them. They keep having so many kids and so many kids, and you look at it, okay, you’re having this many kids, who is going to look after them? It’s you.

“For them, you owe them that. So, sometimes you have to be strong and say, you know what, guys, enough is enough, I don’t care.

“They give you this thing whereby, if you don’t do it, we’re going to go to the press. Oh, wow. After all, I’ve done for you guys. But this happens a lot.

“In Africa, I’m telling you, not everybody comes out and speaks about it, because we’re thinking, how are we going to talk about this?”