Former Nigeria U-17 striker, Ibanga Mbetobong Samuel, popularly known as Mbet Samuel, has spoken out over what he described as 16 years of pain and hardship following a career-ending knee injury he sustained while representing the country.

Mbet, who is currently serving as a National Youth Service Corps member, said repeated efforts to obtain assistance and compensation from the Nigeria Football Federation have yielded no relief. He also said a Federal High Court in Owerri directed him to seek redress at the National Industrial Court after ruling that the matter was outside its jurisdiction.

According to Mbet, he developed the serious knee problem while playing for Nigeria’s U-17 team during preparations for the 2011 African U-17 Championship qualifiers. He said the injury eventually led to osteoarthritis and ended his hopes of becoming a professional footballer. Earlier reports by The PUNCH documented his account of the injury, surgery and subsequent struggles.

Mbet had previously filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit against the NFF at the Federal High Court in Owerri, seeking N2 billion in damages over the alleged failure of the federation to provide adequate medical treatment after the injury. The case, numbered FHC/OW/FHR/30/2025, came before the court in 2025, with the NFF reported to have been absent from an earlier hearing.

The former striker said the injury has continued to affect his ability to work and live normally. He recalled undergoing knee surgery at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, with assistance from former Kwara State Governor Bukola Saraki and officials of the Kwara State Football Academy. He later left football and struggled financially, including working as a butcher in Calabar.

Mbet also repeated his allegation that he was treated harshly when he visited the NFF headquarters in Abuja to seek assistance for his medical condition. He alleged that security personnel were instructed to push him out of the premises. The allegation was previously reported, but the NFF did not respond to the accusation at the time, according to reports.

Despite the difficulties, Mbet said he remains proud of representing Nigeria and is grateful for the opportunity to serve the country again through the NYSC. His case has continued to draw attention since reports in 2023 highlighted his struggles, after which the Cross River State Government and other individuals reportedly supported him in establishing a football training centre.