Former Super Eagles midfielder John Mikel Obi has opened up on the ordeal of learning about his father's kidnapping during the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

The former Super Eagles skipper was informed about his father's abduction just a few hours before Nigeria's crucial encounter against Argentina.

Speaking on his Obi One podcast show, the former Chelsea midfielder disclosed that he couldn't inform the team because he didn't want to let them down ahead of the crucial encounter against the Lionel Messi-led side.

“Kidnappers love my dad, no, they love my money,” Mikel stated as quoted by The PUNCH.

“I didn’t want to let the team down. I was the captain. I thought about it in my room, and then I went out there and played the game,” he said.

“They called me, knowing I was going into the game. They thought it would push me to pay whatever they wanted. I spoke to them, and they said, ‘We’re going to shoot the [expletive] out of him if you don’t pay.’ My dad was on the phone saying, ‘Just give them the money, they are beating me up,’” Mikel recounted.

The Super Eagles lost the game 2-1 and crashed out of the Mundial after Lionel Messi and Marcos Rojo scored for La Albiceleste, with Victor Moses grabbing the consolation.

Mikel Obi eventually settled the ransom, and his dad was released.