Mikel played on after father’s kidnapping

JOHN OBI MIKEL played in Nigeria’s World Cup defeat by Argentina despite having just been told his father was being held for ransom and would be shot “instantly” if he alerted the authorities.

Mikel revealed yesterday that he had received a call four hours before kick-off in his country’s final Group D game from kidnappers demanding 10 million Nigerian naira (about €25,000) for the safe return of Pa Michael Obi.

The former Chelsea midfielder kept quiet about the threat, which was only revealed when Nigerian police announced on Monday night that his father had been rescued that day following a “gun duel”.

According to reports, Mikel’s father had been tortured and needed hospital treatment. His son is considering flying him abroad for further treatment.

Astonishingly, this was the second time Mikel had played a game after being told his father had been kidnapped, the first being almost seven years earlier in a Premier League match between Chelsea and Stoke City. He even made a televised plea for the safe return of his father, who was found alive just over a week later. (© Daily Telegraph, London)