Super Eagles captain John Mikel Obi is willing to help Nigeria's cash-strapped amputee football team play at the World Cup in Mexico.

 Mikel Obi has pledged financial and moral support to the team, by donating and buying kits for them, in order to help the Special Eagles travel to compete in the 2018 tourney.

The team have missed the previous three tournaments as a result of lack of finances but the 31-year-old Tianjin Teda midfielder is looking to assist them with funds.

"We've spoken to a representative of John Mikel Obi who has offered to help the team," co-ordinator of fund-raising, Fred Edoreh, told BBC Sport

"His support will come as a big boost, but right now the dilemma is to find the flights to get the squad to Mexico.

"Time is running out on us and with ticket costs increasing by the day towards our opening game against our budget, we are taking the hard decisions of sending the first team as first batch.

"This is to avoid heavier cost and also get the boys to settle down before the game against Brazil on Sunday.

"The first batch (eight players and coach) should have left today (Tuesday) but there were not enough seats on the last lap of the journey, from Mexico City to Guadalajara.

"Our travel agents are working hard to secure space for them by tomorrow, Wednesday. So they are expected to depart Lagos by 12 noon with Ethiopia Airlines."

"This will help us to secure our presence and avoid a global sanction. Hoping with additional funds, the reserve team can depart on Thursday or Friday," Edoreh said.

The Special Eagles who face a race against time to be in the host nation, will begin their World Cup campaign against Brazil on Sunday.

Like, Follow us on Facebook and Twitter