John Shittu, agent of Super Eagles legend John Obi Mikel as at the time of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, has denied allegations made by ex-Nigeria U23 coach Samson Siasia, saying that the allegation is baseless and unfortunate.
Siasia claimed that Shittu offered him €50,000 to include Mikel in the 2008 Olympic Games squad despite the player not participating in the qualifiers.
Shittu has dismissed the allegation as unfounded, taking aim at Siasia’s credibility. “I am one of the most respected agents in the game,” he said. “I don’t engage myself with damaged or inconsequential people.” Shittu added that the issue no longer holds any weight for him, saying: “As far as I am concerned, it’s a forgotten issue.”
Former Olympic Eagles coach Samson Siasia
Siasia had alleged that Mikel’s agent offered him €50,000 to include Mikel in the Olympic squad. According to Siasia, he rejected the offer on principle, stating that Mikel had no role in the qualification process and it would be unfair to drop a player who had helped Nigeria earn its place in the tournament.
READ MORE: Samson Siasia hits Mikel Obi again, reveal former captain offered him bribe for Beijing Olympics spot
Shittu revealed that Siasia had since called him to apologize over the comments. However, Shittu’s response suggests that he is not interested in pursuing the matter further.
The controversy surrounds Mikel’s involvement in the 2008 Olympic Games. Siasia claimed that Mikel opted out of the qualifiers but later expressed interest in joining the squad once Nigeria had booked its ticket to Beijing.
Nigeria went on to win a silver medal at the Olympics, while Mikel later captained the national U23 team at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, leading them to a bronze medal finish.
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The denial by Shittu brings an end to the controversy, at least from the agent’s perspective. However, the issue may still be debated among football fans and pundits. The apology from Siasia may have brought some closure, but the allegations have already sparked a heated discussion about the integrity of football management.
The disagreement between Samson Siasia and John Obi Mikel concerning 2018 Beijing Olympics rumbles on and is showing no signs of slowing down as new revelation unfolds on daily basis.
