Mikel’s denial was made public via the website of the Nigeria Football Federation. The player who spoke from the team’s camp at the Hyatt Place was quoted thus, “I was first told of this unfortunate story by a friend who called me from Nigeria. I thought he was joking until he sent me the link.
“I don’t know the source of this story which to me is all out to divide us as a team. I would have thought that stories that should be coming out in the media are stories that will unite the team instead of dividing us. Our target in Rio is to excel, but if they continue like this, then I wonder how we can be united.”
Wondering why the writer thinks that the players are hungry and needed his money, Mikel asked, “Tell me the players who are in this team that are so hungry that will be looking up to me for survival? Is it (William) Ekong, (Oghenekaro) Etebo, (Shehu) Abdulahi, (Daniel) Akpeyi, (Kingsley) Madu, (Okechukwu) Azubuike or (Stanley) Amuzie, who are my teammates in the Super Eagles, that I will be donating to, or other players who are plying their trade abroad and are doing well for themselves? To me, this is just mere distraction that won’t help this team going into a major tournament like the Olympics.”
The Chelsea player then appealed to Nigerians generally to rally round the team and wish the players and officials well as they get ready for the men’s football tournament of the Rio Olympics.