The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Mikel Obi

  • I was never away from the Eagles — Mikel

    Super Eagles’ captain, Mikel John Obi has revealed that he was never away from the National team despite missing majority of the county’s matches during the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, AOIFootball.com reports.

    In an exclusive interview with theNFF.com, which was monitored by AOIFootball.com, the 32-year-old stated he was in constant touch with the team despite being away for almost 327 days.

    Read Also: Captain: Rohr insists on Mikel

    “I’m happy, to be honest; it’s been a long time about a year now since I haven’t been here with the team but I have kept in touch with the team and have followed all that was going on and wished the guys the best of luck whenever they went on to play a game.

    “For me, I had a good conversation with the coach after the World Cup, like you know I have been  serving the country for 15 to 16 years so I had to take a break but now I am back to help the team and see if we can try and win another Nations Cup,” Mikel said.

    The 2013 AFCON winner who made his long-awaited return in the goalless draw against Zimbabwe last weekend in Asaba, now has his sights set on securing another AFCON trophy for Nigeria to end his illustrious international career on a high.

  • It’s a great honour to captain Middlesbrough – Mikel

    Super Eagles Captain, John Mikel Obi has said it is nice to lead Middlesbrough out for the second consecutive game following Saturday’s hard fought 1-0 home win against Hull City at the Riverside Stadium.

    He captained Middlesbrough for the first time in a competitive game in the Tuesday’s 2-0 away win at Bolton Wanderers.

    The Nigerian International was bestowed with the honour once again on Saturday afternoon and he expressed his delight even as he hopes Boro can keep on winning games to aid their push for a play- off place at the end of the season.

    Mikel told BBC in an interview that it was always nice to be the captain.

    ”Great team, great players, great lads too, so it is always nice, it is always positive. I am really honored to have captained the team in the last two games.

    ”Hopefully we can keep winning games, I think that is the most important thing.”

    Tony Pulis ‘ men will host Oghenekaro Etebo’s Stoke City in their Championship game on Friday.

    The former Chelsea midfielder who linked up with Middlesbrough on a short term deal in January has featured in 14 Championship games for the club but is yet to find the back of the net.

    Middlesbrough sit in seventh position in the table with 64 points from 42 games.

  • Middlesbrough sign free agent Mikel on short-term deal

    Middlesbrough have signed Super Eagles captain and former Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi on a short-term deal, the Championship club said on Thursday.

    The 31-year-old is arriving at the English league second-tier clubside Riverside Stadium as a free agent.

    This is after leaving China’s Tianjin Teda at the end of the Chinese Super League season in November.

    Mikel rose to prominence during an 11-year stint with Chelsea, winning two English Premier League titles, three FA Cups and the UEFA Champions League in 2012.

    Read Also: Mikel announces departure from Tianjin Teda

    He also won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2013 playing for Nigeria in an international career that has spanned 12 years and 85 appearances, including two World Cups.

    “I’m pleased to get him in. He is a man with a lot of experience and quality,” Middlesbrough manager Tony Pulis said in a statement.

    “He has a winning mentality and he wants to be here to be a part of what we are looking to achieve.”

    Mikel becomes Pulis’ second signing of the January window, following the arrival of Rajiv van La Parra on loan from Huddersfield Town.

    Middlesbrough, who are bidding to return to the English Premier League for the first time since 2016/2017, are currently fifth in the Championship table.

    NAN

     

  • Mikel Visits Tinubu at Bourdillon to promote football

    Super Eagles Captain and Nigeria International John Mikel Obi may not be playing football at the moment, but he has a packed schedule while on vacation in Nigeria.

    The China based midfielder has been in the country with his wife and twin daughters who are visiting for the first time since the end of the Chinese Super League.

    On Monday, the former Chelsea player visited the Bourdillon residence of the National Leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu also a football enthusiast.

    The reason for the visit was not disclosed but it must have centered on football.

    Mikel was dressed in a white long sleeve shirt on black trousers and was accompanied on the visit by a friend.

    The Tianjin Teda of China ace has, made the headlines for not only bringing his family  to Nigeria, but also for launching a football clinic in Lagos.

    On Sunday, Mikel launched the catch them young football foundation meant for discovering young talents in Africa in Lagos were he availed the medium to advise kids with talents and interest in the round leather game.

    ”I decided to come up with this foundation to give back because I am a Nigeria, and I am a product of Pepsi Academy and I decided to give back to the society what I have gained from the society, “ Mikel said as he encouraged upcoming kids to give their best on education and football.

  • I want my twin to adopt Nigerian culture – Mikel’s Partner

    Shortly after having a feel of life for the first time with the Nigerian family of Super Eagles captain Mikel Obi, his baby mama, Olga Diyachenko could not hide how sweet the experience was and a lovely wish she has since gotten for her two daughters.

    The Russian beauty queen and mother to Mikel’s twin is on a family vacation in Nigeria with her twin daughters; Ava and Mia and has since taken to the social media to express how loving her first hand experience about life, culture and ladies in Nigeria as she met her Nigerian partner’s family.

    No doubt Mikel, his partner, and his kids received a very warm welcome by his family and friends home based in Nigeria in cocktail meet.

    Apart from the aloe article she shared on her take about the experience, the tall and slim good to go wife also shared a short video which showed her skill in twerking and mastering of dancing steps to Naija Igbo music.

    See the video below

  • Trauma of Super Eagles captain Mikel Obi

    EVEN years after he was seized by cruel kidnappers, Pa Michael Obi, father of the Super Eagles captain, Mikel Obi, again had another rough deal in the den of abductors on June 29.

    Pa Obi and his driver, John Ishaya, according to the police, were abducted on Makurdi-Enugu Road, while the footballer was on his way from Jos, Plateau State.

    Mikel’s father, according to the police, was travelling in his grey coloured Toyota Prado Sports Utility vehicle marked MUS 604CG, when he was kidnapped.

    The kidnappers were said to have demanded N10m as ransom from Obi’s family.

    They were, however, rescued by the operatives of Enugu State Police Command on Monday July 2, after a shootout with the kidnappers.

    In a statement, Enugu Police spokesman, Ebere Amaraizu, said the rescue operation was carried out by men of the Ninth Mile Division of the command in a forest, after a gun battle with the kidnappers.

    The suspected kidnappers escaped after being overpowered by the police.

    Amaraizu said: “The Enugu State Command of the Nigeria Police Force, through its operatives, rescued Pa Michael Obi and his driver, one Ishaya John, unhurt in Egede Udi forest on Monday, July 2, 2018, around 2.30pm along old Egede-Affa Road, Enugu.

    “They were rescued hale and hearty and Pa Michael Obi and the driver have been reunited with their families. “Pa Obi and his driver were abducted along Markurdi-Enugu Road on his way from Jos and taken to a thick forest. “The abductors called to demand a ransom of N10m before policemen, acting on intelligence information, swooped on them, after which a gun duel ensued which forced the hoodlums to abandon their victims inside the forest and fled.”

    The police spokesman added that Pa Obi commended the police for the rescue. “Pa Obi thanked the Commissioner of Police, Danmallam Mohammed, and the operatives, saying he is happy with the operatives’ performance.” Mikel’s trauma The news of the abduction was relayed to the Super Eagles midfielder on the telephone, a few hours to the crucial match against Argentina which Nigeria lost 1-2.

    The kidnappers were said to have threatened to kill the elderly Obi, if the law enforcement agencies were informed. In an interview published on the online platform of a cable television, Mikel said he got a call from Nigeria barely four hours to the Argentina game that his father had been kidnapped. Mikel further revealed that the kidnappers demanded N10 million ($28,000 US) for the safe return of his father, Pa Michael Obi. “I was confused. I did not know what to do, but in the end I knew that I could not let 180 million Nigerians down,” Mikel was quoted as saying.

    Mikel Obi’s father
    Mikel Obi’s father

    “I had to shut it out of my head and decided to represent my country first. I was told that they would shoot my dad instantly if I reported to the authorities or told anybody. “And I did not want to discuss it with the coach because I did not want my issue to become a distraction to the coach or the rest of the team on the day of such an important game. So as much as I wanted to discuss it with the coach, I could not do it.” His courage to play the Argentine game despite his father’s abduction drew applause from a cross section of Nigerians on the social media for his exemplary display of patriotism.

    ”Congratulations, Mikel, over the rescue of your father from the den of kidnappers. Your courage to play in the match for Nigeria has shown that you are a patriotic country man and yours is a rare gut. We need people like you to run our great country at this moment. Well done,” said a commentator identified as Temiloluwa. Another Nigerian, Sesan, wrote: ” I thank God for the release of your father from the kidnappers. Playing for Nigeria on a day your father was abducted is a rare courage. Keep it up. Your sense of patriotism is commendable; it is a huge sacrifice.” Another respondent, Anthony Igwe, said: ‘’May divine protection never fail you and your family. You are a very courageous man. You deserve a national honour for your heroic conduct. It is well with you.” It will be recalled that the Eagles captain’s father was first kidnapped on August 12, 2011 on his way home from work in Jos, the Plateau State capital.

  • Expect no less than before at Russia 2018 as quarter-finals get underway

    The 2018 FIFA World Cup enters the quarter-finals stage on Friday, with the France versus Uruguay fixture at Nizhny Novgorod kicking off a two-day line-up of four potentially-explosive matches.

    The quarter-finals have come with the usual expectations and surprise element of any tournament of this nature, yet they have not come without a trace of the unexpected.

    The first round/group phase did not do so much to shock us, other than see off title-holders Germany, world number 10 Poland and the five African sides.

    However, the Round of 16 has lived up to expectations, not just with the exit of 2010 champions Spain, two-times champions Argentina and Portugal, but the teams’ star players.

    Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Andres Iniesta, Isco, Diego Costa, Angel Di Maria,Gonzalo Higuain, Ricardo Quaresma, Sergio Ramos and Javier Mascherano are now watching the competition from their homes.

    They joined the likes of Tony Kroos, Thomas Muller, Mikel Obi, Victor Moses, Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Manuel Neuer and Robert Lewandowski who had been on the sidelines pretty much earlier.

    Their situation, very much unfavoured, is what the likes of Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani, as well as Paul Pogba, Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappe will now try to avoid.

    France with their array of megastars such as Pogba, Mbappe, Griezmann, Olivier Giroud and N’Golo Kante will be wary of what Suarez and Cavani can do upfront.

    But the Uruguayan defence line should worry them much more, with the Atletico Madrid defensive pair of Diego Godin and Jose Gimenez at the centre of affairs.

    Read Also: World Cup: Germany arrive home to angry supporters

    Later on Friday, Belgium who made an incredible comeback from two goals down to win 3-2 will face Brazil at Kazan and knowing that a confrontation with Brazil or Belgium awaits.

    Brazil should rather be wary of Belgium, with Eden Hazard and Romelo Lukaku, have gone 23 games unbeaten and have the best record at this tournament so far.

    They have won all their matches so far, scoring 12 and conceding four goals, but the grittiness which saw them through against Japan is something Brazil will need much of.

    Brazil have struggled to survive against Switzerland, Costa Rica and Serbia, in spite of Neymar, Willian, Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino, Casemiro, Gabriel Jesus and Marcelo not looking out of form.

    However, the fact that they have not conceded again since the only goal against Switzerland in their opening match is something Belgium will have to think a lot about.

    England have been thinking so much that they now have a good chance of another World Cup win since 1966, with the tournament draw being good to them.

    They do not to have to face the likes of France, Uruguay, Brazil or Belgium until July 15, and they feel Sweden may not be too much headache.

    But when they face off on Saturday in Samara, they will have to contend with a side which has shown so much resilience, even in the absence of Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

    They beat The Netherlands and Italy in qualifying for Russia, made life difficult for Germany and beat South Korea and Mexico in Russia, and eliminated Switzerland in the Round of 16.

    Usually a quiet side, Sweden can bring down England if they keep under check Harry Kane and Jesse Lingard, as well as likely substitutes Marcus Rashford and Jamie Vardy.

    The good thing for the Swedes is that, in spite of Kane’s leading goalscorer status, England do not have what they do not have, and this makes the game balanced.

    Russia have not disappointed so far, and it is a good preview for them as they head to Fisht Stadium in Sochi to host Croatia on Saturday.

    It is a likely quiet and not-extraordinary game, with Russia being the lowest FIFA-ranked team at the tournament.

    While Russian hopes have risen since the penalty kicks shootout defeat of Spain, it may just serve the hosts well not to count their chickens b efore they are hatched.

    Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic have provided the needed midfield inspiration, while Mario Mandzukic and Ivan Perisic have spearheaded offensive runs which have produced not goals but team game stability.

    The Croats are aware of their capability and Modric, while speaking at their pre-match press conference on Wednesday, said team compatibility is a weapon they would use to great effect.

    “We know it is going to be tough against Russia, especially as they are the hosts, but we know ourselves and what we can do. We will do it as expected,’’ he said.

    However, will they be able to reenact the performance that led them to the 1998 semi-finals in France, having to play against a team and its expectant nation of 144 million?

    It is however Russia’s best World Cup run since the 1966 semi-finals appearance, and they will want to go further than this quarter-finals stage not just because they are the hosts.

    They have shown good strength of character with the way they overcame Spain, and swung their compatriots who never believed in them before behind them.

    While they can shock the Croats, and which can happen, it may just be one other shock in a tournament that is still capable of bringing up more shocks.

    NAN

  • Police rescue Mikel’s abducted father in Enugu

    The police on Monday rescued the abducted father of Super Eagles captain, Mikel Obi, in Enugu.

    A statement issued by spokesman of Enugu State Police Command, Ebere Amaraizu, said Pa Michael Obi and his driver, Ishaya John, were kidnapped last Friday along Makurdi – Enugu Road.

    The statement read:‎ “The Enugu State Command of the Nigeria Police Force through  its operatives of the 9thmile Division on Monday at 2:30 p.m. rescued Pa Michael Obi  and his driver one Ishaya John unhurt in Egede udi forest of Enugu State along old Egede Affa Road in Enugu.

    “They were rescued hale and hearty and Pa Michael Obi and the driver have rejoined their family. It was gathered that Pa Obi  was allegedly abducted  along Makurdi -Enugu road  in the afternoon of 29/6/18 on his way from Jos in his grey colored Toyota pardon jeep with registration number MUS 604CG  and taken to unknown destination through the thick forest part of the area.

    “It was further gathered that the abductors started calling to demand a ransom of N10 million before the operatives acting on intelligence information swooped on them where a gun duel ensued. This forced the hoodlums to abandon their victims inside the forest and they were promptly rescued.”

  • The future will determine my stay in Eagles’ camp – Mikel

    Mikel Obi, Super Eagle’s Captain has said that his further stay in the national team would be determined by future realities.

    Mikel, who agreed that the team had a disappointing outing against Argentina in the last group D match at St. Petersburg Stadium on Tuesday, disclosed this at a post match conference.

    ‘‘My continued stay in the Super Eagles will be determined by future realities, but I love the team.

    “It is very young, disciplined and supportive,” he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Nigeria failed to advance into the second round courtesy of a 1-2 loss to the Argentines in the last group match played at St. Petersburg stadium.

    Speaking on whether he would be available for Nigeria’s outings in the next African Cup of Nations, Mikel said: “We should wait for the Eagles to qualify first.’’

    ‘‘I hope I can still be around but that will depend on if the team qualify,’’ he said.

    On his assessment of the team’s performance in the match, Mikel said: “It was a day we did everything we could but failed to qualify.

    Read Also: Real reason I shunned Man U for Chelsea – Mikel

    ‘‘In second half, we played well but luck was not on our side. It is a young team and we will be back in four years’ time.’’

    Talking of the welfare situation and administration of the team under him, Mikel said everything was wonderful and exciting.

    ‘‘We have everything going well for us, the team was fantastic and friendly and the football authorities treated us well.

    ‘‘Most especially, our travel arrangements were superb and I have never experienced it before,’’ the Eagles’ captain said.

  • Injured Mikel trains for Argentina showdown

    Eagles Captain, Mikel Obi may have been rushed back to fitness from injury for the crucial Argentina game at the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Russia.

    The 31-year-old sustained a wrist injury during Nigeria’s 2-0 win over Iceland at the Volgograd Arena on Friday.

    But the Nigeria midfielder resumed light training on Monday with the national team with a bandage on his wrist.

    Nigeria are second in Group D and will next face two-time former champions Argentina, who have only point from two games at the St. Petersburg Stadium in a match that will start by 7:pm.