Former Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel has opened up about the distressing moment he learnt his father had been kidnapped just hours before Nigeria’s decisive World Cup match against Argentina in 2018.
Speaking in a recent interview, Mikel revealed that he received the shocking news only two hours before kick-off.
“My dad was kidnapped while I was playing for Nigeria at the 2018 World Cup in Russia,” he said. “We were about to play against Argentina when my brother called to tell me what had happened.”
The midfielder recalled that it was not the first time his father had been abducted, but the timing made the experience even more traumatic.
“The first time was shocking, but the second time was even more devastating because it happened just before one of the biggest games of my life,” he explained. “I couldn’t leave my room or tell anyone. I just sat there for about 30 minutes thinking, what am I going to do?”
Despite the emotional turmoil, Mikel chose to play, leading Nigeria in the high-stakes match against Lionel Messi’s Argentina.
He also revealed that Chelsea, his former club, and then-owner Roman Abramovich offered extraordinary support during the ordeal.
“Chelsea were amazing. I remember Abramovich asking, ‘Do you want me to send people over? Because I know if I send people, I can get your dad out.’ I was shocked and asked how he would do it. He just said, ‘Don’t worry about that. If you want that option, I can make it happen.’”
Fortunately, four to five days after the match, Mikel’s father was rescued by police and safely reunited with his family.
The former Chelsea star has since spoken about how the experience tested his strength and focus, describing it as one of the most difficult moments of his career.
