The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Mikel Obi

  • AFCON: Egypt won’t escape defeat – Mikel

    AFCON: Egypt won’t escape defeat – Mikel

    Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi has said the major priority for the Super Eagles on Friday is to defeat Egypt and boost the team’s chances of qualifying for next year’s African Nations Cup (AFCON) in Gabon.

    Nigeria lies two points behind the Egyptians in the qualifying group, but a win in Kaduna will see the three-time African champions leapfrog the North Africans before next week’s reverse fixture in Alexandria, Egypt, africanFootball.com reports.

    Chad hosts Tanzania in the group’s other match in Ndjamena.

    “The Egyptians are ahead of us in the qualifiers, we therefore have to win on Friday so as to go above them on the table,” Mikel told africanFootball.com.

    “So, Friday’s match is really the big one and we are playing at home. We are ready.”

     

     

  • UEFA Champions League: Why I fouled Lucas – Mikel

    UEFA Champions League: Why I fouled Lucas – Mikel

    Chelsea midfielder, John Obi Mikel, has defended his role in Paris Saint-Germain’s opening goal in Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League last-16 first leg tie in Paris, insisting he had to foul the French club attacker, Lucas Moura.

    The midfielder was penalised for bringing down the Brazilian just over 25 yards from goal, before turning his back on Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s strike which deflected off him and into the net.

    The Super Eagles star later scored the equalizer for Chelsea in first half stoppage time, taking advantage of slack defending in the PSG penalty area to fire home.

    “I had to fall in because Lucas was going deeper and deeper into our 18-yard box,” Goal quoted Mikel as saying to BT Sport. “I had to – if not get the ball – foul him, which I did.

    “Then the free kick just skipped off my feet and went into the back of the net. But we came back strong as well. But we’re very disappointed to have lost the game.”

     

  • Mikel earns N80m for Amstel advert

    Mikel earns N80m for Amstel advert

    Super Eagles midfielder, Mikel Obi, is not only grabbing the cash at Stamford Bridge but also from endorsements with his Amstel Malta commercial netting him 800,000 million Naira (about $4 million).

    “Mikel hit it rich with the Amstel Malta advert as he will pocket about 800 million Naira over a number of years,” a source told africanFootball.com.

    “Nollywood actress, Genevieve Nnaji, who featured in another Amstel commercial, will pocket half that amount.”

    Endorsements formed the bulk the earnings of world‘s top soccer stars like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

  • Chelsea will make top four – Mikel

    Chelsea will make top four – Mikel

    Super Eagles midfielder, Mikel Obi, will not rule out Chelsea finishing in the top four in the English Premier League, although the club lies in the relegation zone.

    “We have to win every game now. The top four is still achievable, we can still do it so why not? It is not beyond our reach,” africanFootball.com quoted Mikel as saying on Chelsea website.

    “The cups are always important as well. We are still in the Champions League, the FA Cup is going to start very soon so we have to take those very seriously at the same time. But we also want to concentrate on the league because we know we have to push up the table.”

    Mikel became the 21st player to make 350 appearances in Chelsea’s 110- year history after coming on as a second-half substitute in the 2-2 draw with Watford on Boxing Day.

    “I want to push on and see how many more appearances I can get. For me it has been a great time here.

    “I still enjoy it and ever since I walked into this football club, I knew this was the place for me,” he said.

  • Mikel wants to play at Rio Olympics

    Mikel wants to play at Rio Olympics

    Chelsea star Mikel Obi has expressed his desire to feature at next year’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as one of three over-aged players.

    The 28-year-old midfielder has won almost every major trophy at stake including the UEFA Champions League and English Premier League, but has missed out on playing at the Olympics, africanFootball.com reports.

    Incidentally, it was Coach Samson Siasia that left him out from the 2008 Olympics after he stayed away from the competition qualifiers.

    “He has made it clear he wishes to play at the Rio Olympics,’ a top official of the Nigeria Football Federation told africanFootball.com.

    “But it is left for the coach to pick the overage players he will take along to Brazil next year.”

     

     

  • WCQ: Mikel, Iheanacho join Eagles’ camp

    WCQ: Mikel, Iheanacho join Eagles’ camp

    Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi and Manchester City starlet, Kelechi Iheanacho, have joined the Super Eagles training camp in Abuja ahead of Friday’s World Cup qualifier in Swaziland.

    Mikel arrived Abuja early Tuesday morning on board a British Airways flight.

    “I hope to win (against Swaziland) and I have been doing this from the first day,” africanFootball.com quoted the Chelsea star as saying on arrival.

    Manchester City’s Iheanacho is honouring his first Super Eagles call-up.

    The players already in camp are Efe Ambrose, Odion Ighalo, Elderson Echiejile, Alex Iwobi, Rabiu Ibrahim, Carl Ikeme as well as the players from the domestic league – Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Austin Oboroakpo, Jamiu Alimi, Orji Kalu and Chima Akas

    Nigeria’s first training session will take place by 4:00pm at Abuja National Stadium.

    The team will depart Abuja early Thursday morning for Swaziland on a chartered flight.

  • Chelsea behind Mourinho – Mikel

    Chelsea behind Mourinho – Mikel

    Super Eagles midfielder, John Obi Mikel, has said the Chelsea players are behind embattled manager Jose Mourinho, stating the Portuguese can improve the Premier League champions’ fortunes.

    Mikel was part of the Blues side that lost 1-3 at home to Liverpool on Saturday to further increase the pressure on the coach after six defeats in 11 league outings, Goal reports.

    Four points from three Champions League games and a League Cup exit at the hands of Stoke City have added to Mourinho’s difficult campaign, with reports suggesting an element of unhappiness in the Chelsea dressing room.

    But Mikel said, “We are right behind the manager. There’s no doubt about it.

    “In training we work very hard. If anyone can turn this around, we definitely think Mourinho is the one.

    “Last year we were champions. We won two trophies. Jose knows this club more than any other manager. He’s the most successful manager in the club’s history.

    “I definitely think that, if anything is wrong, if anything can be fixed, he is the one.”

    As speculation regarding Mourinho’s future continues to swirl, former Chelsea bosses Guus Hiddink and Carlo Ancelotti are said to be targets over a short-term return to the club.

    However, Mikel maintains any desire to see an end to Mourinho’s second reign at Chelsea comes from outside the dressing room.

  • ‘Mikel rejected Eagles vice captainship’

    ‘Mikel rejected Eagles vice captainship’

    Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel rejected the opportunity to be vice – captain of the Super Eagles before the position was handed to Eddy Onazi and Kenneth Omeruo.

    Contrary to speculations  that the midfielder would not honour future Super Eagles’ call – ups after he was overlooked for the captain’s armband by coach Sunday Oliseh, one of Mikel’s representatives has insisted that the player has taken the decision in good faith and is available for selection for the World Cup qualifiers.

    “Sunday Oliseh wanted Mikel to be vice – captain, since he has already given Musa the captain’s armband,” the unnamed agent told allnigeriasoccer.com.

    “He only wants to play in the team. He is not interested in being an assistant captain. Whenever they invite him, he will come.

    “I think he was not chosen as captain because he missed the game in Tanzania, but Oliseh was impressed with his performance in the friendlies against DRC and Cameroon.”

     

  • Friendlies: Musa, Onazi, 13 others train in Belgium

    Friendlies: Musa, Onazi, 13 others train in Belgium

    Super Eagles forward, Ahmed Musa and 14 other foreign-based players on Monday commenced training in Belgium for this week’s international friendlies against Congo DR and Cameroon.

    Also in Monday’s training were –Ogenyi Onazi, John Mikel Obi, Carl Ikeme, Elderson Echiejile, Efe Ambrose, William Troost-Ekong, Leon Balogun, Sylvester Igbonu, Rabiu Ibrahim and Obiora Nwankwo.

    Odion Ighalo, Moses Simon, Emmanuel Emenike and Alex Iwobi completed the list of players in camp.

    Super Eagles top official, Enebi Achor, told africanFootball.com the team will train twice on Tuesday (10am and 4pm) at the same venue.

    Nigeria faces Congo DR on Thursday, before tackling Cameroon three days later as part of preparations for next month’s 2018 World Cup qualifier against either Swaziland or Djibouti.

     

  • Enyeama, Mikel recalled for Eagles’ friendlies

    Enyeama, Mikel recalled for Eagles’ friendlies

    Super Eagles coach, Sunday Oliseh, has called up 24 players for next month’s international friendlies with Congo and Cameroon.

    Enyeama missed out on Nigeria’s last two fixtures against Tanzania and Niger Republic, supersport.com reports.

    The Lille OSC goalkeeper was bereaved following the death of his mother and asked to be excused from both games.

    He will now return to captain the three-time African champions in the fixtures against Congo and Cameroun in Belgium.

    The squad:

    Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Lille OSC, France); Carl Ikeme (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Sunshine Stars); Femi Thomas (Enyimba FC).

    Defenders: Leon Balogun (FSV Mainz 05, Germany); Abdullahi Shehu (Uniao da Madeira, Portugal); Elderson Echiejile (AS Monaco, France); Chima Akas (Sharks FC); Godfrey Oboabona (Caykur Rizespor, Turkey); William Troost Ekong (FK Haugesund, Norway); Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa SK, Turkey); Austin Oboroakpo (Abia Warriors).

    Midfielders: Ogenyi Onazi (SS Lazio, Italy); Paul Onobi (Sunshine Stars); Obiora Nwankwo (Coimbra FC, Portugal); John Mikel Obi (Chelsea FC, England); Rabiu Ibrahim (AS Trencin, Slovakia).

    Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Emmanuel Emenike (Al Ain, UAE); Sylvester Igbonu (FC UFA, Russia); Moses Simon (KAA Gent, Belgium); Victor Moses (West Ham United, England); Odion Ighalo (Watford FC, England); Prince Aggrey (Sunshine Stars).