Several reports from Nigerian media on Thursday, July 28 say that he donated the sum after he joined the squad on Monday, July 25, 2016 at their camp in Atlanta, United States.

Reacting to the reports, Mikel Obi said he was informed by a friend who called him from Nigeria.

"I don't know the source of this story which to me is all out to divide us as a team. I would have thought that stories that should be coming out in the media are stories that will unite the team instead of dividing us,” he told the official website of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

He further shut down the reports that the players are in unfair conditions in camp due to financial difficulties, pointing out that all the players in the squad are doing well.

"Tell me the players who are in this team that are so hungry that will be looking up to me for survival?” Mikel asked.

“Is it (William) Ekong, (Oghenekaro) Etebo, (Shehu) Abdulahi, (Daniel) Akpeyi, (Kingsley) Madu, (Okechukwu) Azubuike or (Stanley) Amuzie, who are my team –mates in the Super Eagles, that I will be donating to, or other players who are plying their trade abroad and are doing well for themselves? To me, this is just mere distraction that won't help this team going into a major tournament like the Olympics," he added.

NB: $1=N370