“They Treated Me Like a Dog”: Mbet Samuel Says NFF President Beat and Abandoned Him After Injury

Former Nigerian U-17 striker Ibanga Mbetobong Samuel, widely known as Mbet Samuel, has accused Ibrahim Gusau, President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), of ordering security personnel to physically assault him during a visit to the federation’s office in November 2024.

The visit, Mbet claims, was a desperate attempt to seek support after a career-ending injury he sustained while playing for the national team.

In an exclusive interview with SaharaReporters, the once-promising forward shared a harrowing story of injury, abandonment, and alleged mistreatment by those he once proudly represented on the pitch.

“I played for Nigeria in the 2011 CAF U-17 qualifiers against Congo in Pointe Noire. I got injured during preparations but continued to play through the pain. After our loss, I was dropped without treatment. That was the end of my career,” he said.

Career Cut Short by Injury

Following his exit from the national setup, Mbet returned to Kwara Football Academy on a government-sponsored scholarship but was sidelined for over a year due to his worsening knee injury.

He later underwent surgery at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, where doctors diagnosed him with knee osteoarthritis—a degenerative condition with no cure.

“The surgeon told me my football days were over—I only had five more years left to play, but that window had already closed,” Mbet recalled.

With his career cut short, Mbet said he fell into deep despair, losing his scholarship and returning home to Cross River State, where he now lives in a one-room apartment with his widowed mother and younger sister.

“I almost took my life. I had nothing left. But somehow, I survived.”

Allegations of Abuse at NFF Headquarters

In a final effort to seek help, Mbet visited the NFF headquarters in Abuja last year to plead his case directly to President Gusau.

But what he hoped would be a conversation of compassion, he said, turned into humiliation.

“I told him my career ended while playing for Nigeria. He replied that even the government doesn’t give them money to treat Super Eagles players, let alone someone like me,” Mbet recounted.

He claimed that when he insisted on some form of support, Gusau lost his temper.

“He ordered his personal security to push me out. I almost fell — and no one cared if my injured leg was hurting. I was treated like a dog. Then he told the gate security to throw me out.”

“I Just Want Recognition and Respect”

Mbet insists his plea is not about financial compensation but for basic empathy and acknowledgment of the sacrifices he made for the country.

“I’m not asking for millions. I just want the NFF to recognise what happened to me. I lost everything because I played for Nigeria. I didn’t deserve to be treated like I was nothing.”

As of the time of this report, the NFF has not issued a response. Multiple attempts to contact Ademola Olajire, the Federation’s Director of Communications, were unsuccessful.

Calls went unanswered, and messages received no replies.