A former Nigeria international was kidnapped a second time following the Super Eagles' 4-4 draw with Sierra Leone in a 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier last Friday. He has since spoken about the ordeal.
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According to Goal, Christian Obodo, a former Udinese and Fiorentina midfielder, was kidnapped in the South-South region of Nigeria on Sunday.
The 36-year-old experienced a similarly harrowing ordeal when gunmen abducted him in 2012, but he was rescued in a police raid. This time, the kidnappers were believed to have bet a large sum of money on Nigeria's recent clash with Sierra Leone.
The Super Eagles led the tie 4-0 after just 29 minutes on Friday, but threw away their lead as Sierra Leone came back to level the score at 4-4.
Obodo, who has since claimed the kidnappers did not cause him any bodily harm, revealed that they had made a bet on Nigeria to score at least one goal in the second half against Sierra Leone.
"It was really discomforting locked up in a hot car trunk for hours," he said on radio station Brila FM.
"The kidnappers were even telling me about how they lost money for placing bets on Nigeria to score in the second half.
"They didn't hurt me or intimidate me, but I can't understand the reason for anyone to want to put me through this sort of thing ever again."
Obodo, who represented his country 16 times as a player, retired from football in 2017.
