Former Super Eagles captain, John Mikel Obi, has sparked reactions online following his remarks about pounded yam, one of Nigeria’s most cherished traditional dishes.
Speaking during a podcast shared on X on Friday, the ex-Chelsea midfielder revealed that he eats pounded yam — a popular Nigerian swallow — only once a month due to how heavy it feels in his body.
“Pounded yam is so heavy, so heavy. I eat it like once in a month because once you eat it, you feel so heavy, and it’s so difficult to digest,” he said.
“It takes me about two, three days to digest. But it’s so good.”
While pounded yam is just one of several swallows commonly enjoyed in Nigerian homes — including eba, amala, fufu, and semovita — Mikel’s comments have stirred mixed reactions, with some Nigerians agreeing with his take, while others defended the iconic dish.
