A storm is brewing in Nigeria’s football community as former Super Eagles midfielder, Oladimeji Lawal, launches a blistering rebuke of ex-captain John Mikel Obi over his repeated public criticism of Nigerian football.
In a strongly worded reaction that is already generating widespread debate, Lawal questioned Mikel’s credibility, accusing him of failing to invest in the development of the same system he now condemns.
“I do not think Mikel has invested in anything football in Nigeria,” Lawal said pointedly. “I am not aware of any football academy or facility established by him, yet he is very loud in his criticism and condemnation.”
The former international did not hold back, warning that persistent negative commentary from high profile figures like Mikel risks damaging Nigeria’s global football image.
“Battering the nation that made you and gave you every opportunity to become somebody is not the best approach,” Lawal stated. “Yes, we need change urgently but not by destroying the flag and the country’s image before the world.”
While conceding that Mikel has the right to express his views, Lawal insisted that criticism must be balanced with responsibility and tangible contributions.
“He has a right to his opinion,” he added, “but he shouldn’t ridicule the flag all the time.”
The clash underscores a deepening divide among Nigerian football icons between those calling out systemic failures from the outside and those demanding direct involvement, investment, and solutions from within.
As the debate intensifies, many stakeholders say the real question remains: should legends speak louder or do more?
