Captain Mikel's father abducted in Nigeria

A few hours before the last World Cup match against Argentina, Nigerian captain John Obi Mikel received a dramatic message: his father was kidnapped

The last decisive game of Group D against Argentina lost Nigeria. There was a lot at stake – but for a star of the "Super Eagles", the game was only accidental

Because midfielder John Obi Mikel was fearing during the game his father's life , kidnapped in southeastern Nigeria. Mikel received the shock message shortly before the match when he drove the team bus to St Petersburg stadium last Tuesday. This was reported by the defensive player of the British newspaper "The Guardian". A parent informed the player that he had to call the hijackers on a specific number.

Mikel: "I did not want to lose 180 million Nigerians"

The 31-year-old was on the phone asked to pay a ransom. "It was said that they would shoot my father immediately if I contacted the authorities or told someone," Mikel said.

After the threat, he saw no other way out and kept the terrible events to himself. "I did not want to discuss the incident with the coach because I did not want this topic to be a distraction for him or the rest of the team the day of a match as well. important, "explained the captain. And: "I was emotionally disturbed and I had to decide if I was mentally ready to play, I knew I could not leave behind 180 million Nigerians." D

According to the Guardian, Pa Michael Obi was in the southeastern Nigeria kidnapped, during this time released from the Nigerian police. Currently, Obi is still in the hospital. His son said he was tortured by the kidnappers during the detention of one week. Already in 2011, the father of the former star of Chelsea was the victim of a kidnapping.