The Nation Newspaper

Tag: John Obi Mikel

  • Mikel: Nobody thought we would go to Russia

    Nigerian midfielder and skipper John Obi Mikel says he is happy with the underdog tag of the Super Eagles ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

    The West Africans are finalising their preparations for the global showpiece and Mikel said not everybody expected them to qualify.

    Coach Gernot Rohr’s side is in the same group with Argentina (Group D) for the fifth time in six World Cup appearances.

    They will also face a tough European pair in Croatia and Iceland in the group, but the skipper said he is happy people have written them off to reach the knockout stages.

    “When you look at the group I’d say we are more than happy for people to write us off and very happy to be the underdogs,” Mikel told the BBC website.

    “Honestly, people didn’t expect us to qualify but we are off to Russia and now it’s all about the rankings.

    “When you look at the group I’d say we are more than happy for people to write us off and very happy to be the underdogs.

    “It takes the pressure off the shoulders of our young squad and we can go about our World Cup with humility, which is perfectly fine.

    “Football is played on the pitch and not by rankings or permutations.”

    Two-time world champions have beaten Nigeria four times at the World Cup, with the Super Eagles losing by the odd goal in each of the matches.

  • Mikel impressive despite Tianjin Teda home draw

    Mikel impressive despite Tianjin Teda home draw

     

    Super Eagles and Tianjin Teda Captain John Obi Mikel was in superlative form on Saturday despite being held to a 1-1 draw by visiting Hebei CFFC.

    Mikel afterwards led his team to appreciate their supporters apparently believing that a point is better than losing in the opener of a new season.

    Prior to the season opener Tianjin Teda had played four friendly matches losing three and drawing one. They conceded 10 goals during the pre-season matches scoring only two, an indication that their strikers will need to up their game if the team is to make a huge impact in the new season.

    Away from Tianjin Teda, it was baptism of fire for Dalian Yifang debutants on Saturday.

    The trio of Jose Fonte, Yannick Carrasco and Nicolas Gaitan are not likely to forget Saturday March 3rd 2018 in a hurry.

    The three players who joined newly promoted Chinese super League Club  Dalian Yifang in February,made their debut for the club on Saturday but were handed an 8-0 demolition by a rampaging Shanghai SIPG. The three players may have come from different countries, Portugal, Belgium and Argentina respectively, but the Saturday’s experience put them in a no smiling mood. They had all started against for their side but found Shanghai SIPG parading Brazilians Hulk and Oscar too hot for comfort.

    Shanghai mustered 24 attempts on goal against a weak Dalian side, who were prone to individual errors and struggled to keep possession throughout.

    The writing was on the wall from the opening minute when Oscar put the hosts in front, before doubling their advantage in 24 minutes.

    Hulk got in on the act when he converted from the spot to put the hosts further ahead on 37 minutes.

    The bombardment did not let up in the second half, as Oscar turned provider to set up Wu Lei, before completing his hat-trick on the hour mark when laid on by his fellow Brazilian.

    Fonte, who signed from Premier League strugglers West Ham, was substituted in the  81st minute the by Yang Shanping , but there was still time for Wu Lei to grab a second before Hulk again turned provider, this time for Lu Wenjun to complete the rout.

    Carrasco and Gaitan, who both signed from Atletico Madrid at the end of the Chinese window, played the entire 90 minutes and will be hoping for a rapid change of fortunes.

    Carrasco, who is reportedly on a wage package worth £8.8million a year in Asia, is in contention for a place in Roberto Martinez’s World Cup squad with Belgium.

     

     

     

     

  • Mike wants injury free 2018, denies  Everton move

    Mike wants injury free 2018, denies  Everton move

     

    Super Eagles Captain John Obi Mikel has dismissed reports that he is planning to dump Chinese Super League Tianjin Teda in January for English premiership side Everton.

    The former Chelsea star who doubles as Tianjin Teda Captain , told whoever cares to listen that he is happy with his stay in China and is not in a hurry to return to England.

    Ironically while speculators are making permutations over the possible move of the 30 year old, Mikel whose exploits contributed in no small measure to Nigeria’s qualification for Russia 2018, added that he is more concerned about remaining injury free next year to enjoy the league season and by extension the world cup party.

    Local press in China and Fans of the Tianjin Teda have recently been weighing the possible of effect of the Nigerian seeking a fresh challenge elsewhere, but Mikel who spent over a decade at the Stamford Bridge calmed their naives when he told the Tianjin TV that was nothing to worry about.

    “I don’t know from where such a rumour could come, but this story is untrue.

    “I want to stay in the CSL and play for Teda. I’m sure there will be lots of speculation about me as the transfer window nears but it is a false rumour.

    “The CSL lags behind the Premier League, but their level is still quite high. I believe more matches will help me get in shape for the 2018 World Cup.

    “I just hope to stay injury free next year and have an amazing season with Teda.”

    The former Lyn midfielder who joined the Chinese Super League early January this year on a free transfer, made about 13 appearances last season, scoring once, as Teda finished 13th, two places but nine points clear of the relegation zone.

    Mikel who joined Chelsea in 2006, made 249 appearances for the Blues just one appearance short of the 250 mark.

     

     

     

     

  • Nigeria to take exciting crop of young talents to Russia

    Nigeria to take exciting crop of young talents to Russia

    Nigeria are the only one of Africa’s five representatives from the last World Cup, who return for the 2018 edition in Russia and will be looking to better their place in the last 16 in Brazil.

    A crop of exciting youngsters headline a team representing Africa’s most populous nation and who will play at the World Cup for the fifth time, having mostly underachieved in the past.

    Kelechi Iheanacho, Alex Iwobi, Henry Onyekuru and Moses Simon represent a new generation that has emerged since the 2014 finals.

    Nigeria surprisingly qualified easily from a tough group that included Algeria, who also reached the second round of the last World Cup, and African champions Cameroon.

    Nigeria were the first African country to book a berth in Russia and finished unbeaten in Africa’s Group B, winning all their home games with two draws and a victory away under German coach Gernot Rohr.

    The German was a surprise appointment just weeks before the start of the group phase of the preliminaries.

    The 64-year-old Rohr is a former Girondins Bordeaux midfielder who returned to coach the French club to the 1996 UEFA Cup final, and in more recent years was national coach of Burkina Faso, Gabon and Niger.

    He will have high hopes that Nigeria can make an impact at the finals, particularly after they beat Argentina 4-2 in a friendly in Russia earlier this month.

    Africa’s best return at the World Cup was a quarter-final place for Cameroon (1990), Senegal (2002) and Ghana (2010).

    But there will be concern about Nigeria’s dependency on Victor Moses and John Obi Mikel, with the level of performances over the last year falling dramatically when they were absent.

    Obi Mikel now plays his club football in China while his old Chelsea team mate Moses is the biggest name in Nigeria’s team.

    NAN

  • Chinese Super League: Mikel others set to resume action

    Chinese Super League: Mikel others set to resume action

     

     

    After close to two weeks of recess, legion of China based Eagles will file out this weekend as action resumes in the Chinese Super League.  Matches in the league were last played in the Weekend of March 11th and 12th. Only two matches have so far been played in the new season with Odion Ighalo’s Changchun Yatai yet to register a point in the 16 team log.

    Although eight of the clubs will be in action on Saturday, those with Nigerian lads in their lineup will be action on Sunday. Super Eagles John Obi Mikel who doubles as Tianjin Teda Captain will lead his teammates against visiting Chongqing Dangdai while Anthony Ujah will be hoping to make an impact as his side Liaoning Whowin host Jiangsu Suning. Perhaps Ighalo and his teammates will have an opportunity to earn the much needed first point of the season as Changchun Yatai host Shandong Luneng. While his compatriots will be playing at home this weekend however, Obafemi Martins and his Shanghai Shenhua side will be away to Beijing Guoan where they hope to pick a point.  The side only few days back had a section of the stadium gutted by fire but were lucky as no damage was done to the pitch and no casualty recorded.

    The china Eagles were all left out of Super Eagles shape up friendly against Taranga Lions of Senegal in London, with Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr confirming they were deliberately left out to enable them settle down in their new clubs. He however assured that they remain available for selection ahead of the World Cup and Nations Cup qualifiers against Cameroon and South Africa respectively 

  • Mikel,ideye play for 90 minutes as Tianjin Teda draw

    Mikel,ideye play for 90 minutes as Tianjin Teda draw

     

     

    Super Eagles duo of John Obi Mikel and Brown Ideye were in action for full 90 minutes for their Chinese Super League side

    Tianjin Teda against Jiangsu Suning at the Nanjing Olympic Sports Center Friday.  The tie which ended in goalless draw handed visiting Tianjin Teda their first one point in the new season which kicked off last weekend.

    The tie in which centre referee dished out half a dozen yellow cards, saw one of the cards going to Ideye in the 28th minute and the second to teammate Guo Hao in the 69th minute.

    Hosts Jiangsu Suning however got the lion share of the cautions with cards going to Brazilian import Ramires, Liu Janye, Ji Xiang and Tao Yuan respectively.

    Season opener for Tianjin Teda ended in a 2-0 defeat and Friday’s draw means the Mikel Obi captained side will have to wait a bit longer to record their first win.

    Shanghai Shenhua’s Obafemi Martins who was not listed as teammate Carlos Tevez led the side to a 4-0 demolition of Jiangsu Suning in the season opener March 5th, will be hoping to be in action Saturday when they take on Tianjin Quanjian at the Hongkou Stadium.

  • Mikel,Ighalo open Chinese season on a losing note

    Mikel,Ighalo open Chinese season on a losing note

     

     

     

    Super Eagles and Tiajin Teda captain John Obi Mikel opened his Chinese Super League season Saturday on a losing note.

    The match played at the Jinan Olympic sports Center Stadium saw hosts Shandong Luneng open scoring in the 78th minute  through Binbin Liu after the entire first half had failed to to produce a goal for either side.

    The homers increased the tally four minutes later all thanks to Senegalese import Demba Cisse who got a timely assist from Xinghan Wu.

    Mikel and his new teammates playing their first competitive match as a team since he joined the side from Premier league side Chelsea, managed to maintain 49% possession but could not convert any of their chances.  The Chinese Super League appear to be implementing recent restriction on the number of foreign players on the pitch to the letter as only Mikel, Cisse and Italian Graziano Pellè were in action.  While the Italian and Cisse played for the home side, Mikel was the only foreigner in action for the visitors

    Mikel was however not the only Eagle that suffered defeat in the opener, as Odion Ighalo’s club Changchun Yatai were thoroughly demolished 5-1 by Shanghai SIPG at the Shanghai Stadium. The former Watford forward however saw a full 90 minutes action.

    Compatriot Obafami Martins begins his quest for honour with his club Shanghai Shenhua in the new season Sunday against Jiangsu Suning

  • Robben rejected China move

    Robben rejected China move

     

     

    As top footballers continue to head to China for mega bucks, Arjen Robben has revealed that he turned down big-money offers from China in favour of a prolonged stay at Bayern Munich.

    The Netherlands international signed a one-year extension with Bayern on Monday that will keep him at the club until June 2018.

    Several top players have been swayed by ludicrous offers from the Chinese Super League with the likes of Oscar, Carlos Tevez and Axel Witsel and Nigerian international John Obi Mikel having made the move to China this month.

    But former Real Madrid winger Robben, 32, had no intention of contemplating an exit from Bundesliga champions Bayern.

    “I am having a great time here at Bayern and I am playing at one of the best clubs in the world. I would not know where to move at my age,” Robben told Radio 538.

    “A transfer to China would be something else entirely. That is basically acknowledging your career is over. I want to keep playing at the highest level as long as possible.

    “It is all about a certain madness that is ongoing in China right now. They are offering some crazy figures. I also got some offers. The money on show is so crazy that you at least have to consider it.

    “They are offering maybe four, five or six times the amounts you get at a big club. But money has never driven me. That is why I have had such a great career. It is about football for me.

     

    “I do not understand players going to China at the age of 27 or 28. Those guys are at the peak of their career. That is a waste really. You only get one career. I sort of understand players who are already in their 30s.”

    The 32-year-old has netted six goals in 14 appearances in all competitions this term.

  • FIFA Best Player: How Mikel shared his 10 point vote

    FIFA Best Player: How Mikel shared his 10 point vote

    Contrary to permutations that virtually all the national captains will vote for Ronaldo and Messi before others, Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel had no vote for the Barcelona ace even as Ronaldo claimed the award with flourish on Monday in Zurich. Mikel who few days ago finally made a decision to leave Stamford Bridge and head for China for good, handed Ronald 5 points, gave Athletic Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann 3 points while the remaining 2 points went to Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. Interestingly if captain of the Brazilian national team Alves DaSilva had his way, the three musketeers of Barcelona would have lined up as first second and third respectively. Alves who had no vote for Ronaldo allocated 5 points to Messi, 3 points to Neymay and the remaining 2 points to Luis Suarez who form the popular attacking force otherwise dubbed MSN in Camp Nou.

  • Mikel should quit Chelsea now, Ikpeba advises

    Mikel should quit Chelsea now, Ikpeba advises

    Ex-International Victor Ikpeba has expressed concerned over John Obi Mikel’s lack of playing time at Chelsea.

    Mikel has fallen way down the pecking order since Antonio Conte took control in the summer.

    The former African Footballer of the Year advised Mikel to swallow his pride and move to another club to save his career.

    Ikpeba observed that Mikel was too tired during Saturday’s 2018 World Cup qualifier against Algeria at the Godswill Akpabio stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State before he was substituted.

    “I am concerned that Mikel is not getting playing time at Chelsea. He needs to have enough playing time. On Saturday (during World Cup clash against Algeria) he was very tired because he lacked playing time in Chelsea. Mikel should know better why he is not playing at Chelsea.

    “I can understand the support he is getting from fans and coach but the truth is that he needs to play regularly even if it is with reserve team. When I played in Belgium and I didn’t get enough playing time with first team I played with reserve team to keep myself fit. He should forget about pride and go to another club,” Ikpeba said.