Mikel revealed that he played against Argentina with the knowledge his father was being held for ransom.GETTY IMAGES
John Obi Mikel played in Nigeria’s World Cup defeat to Argentina "despite having just been told his father was being held for ransom" and would be shot "instantly" if he alerted the authorities, according to Ben Rumsby of the London TELEGRAPH. Mikel revealed on Tuesday that he received a call four hours before kickoff of his country’s final Group D game from kidnappers demanding 10 million Nigerian naira ($27,700) for the "safe return" of Pa Michael Obi. Former Chelsea midfielder Mikel "kept quiet about the news, which was only revealed" almost a week later when Enugu State Police announced on Monday that his father "had been rescued earlier that day." That followed what the force described as a "gun duel" with the kidnappers (TELEGRAPH, 7/3). In London, David Hytner reported Pa Michael Obi was abducted in southeast Nigeria as he traveled to a funeral along the Makurdi-Enugu expressway from Jos. The police in Nigeria "were able to secure his release" but Mikel said that his father "was tortured during a week-long ordeal and is currently receiving emergency treatment in hospital." He was also kidnapped in '11. Mikel: "I played while my father was in the hands of bandits. I had to suppress the trauma. I took a call four hours before kickoff to tell me what had happened. I was emotionally distraught and I had to make the decision about whether I was mentally ready to play. I was confused. I did not know what to do but, in the end, I knew that I could not let 180 million Nigerians down" (GUARDIAN, 7/3).
