The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Mikel

  • Mikel, Moses missing

    Mikel, Moses missing

    None of the Super Eagles stars plying their trade in the English premiership was named in the short list of Professional Football players Association (PFA) award .

    Super Eagles and Chelsea midfielder John Mikel Obi has his teammate Eden Hazard making the list and incidentally the only Chelsea player in the six-man list with Liverpool players dominating proceedings. Victor Moses, who has been on loan to Liverpool since last year and who has been having minimal outing for the side in recent time, was expectedly missing with teammates Steven Garrard, Daniel Sturridge and Luis Saurez all making the list which interesting has African footballer of the year and Man City striker Yaya Toure in the race alongside Adam Lallana who plays for Southampton as the last nominee.

    According to PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor, all have a strong chance of winning.

    “These awards celebrate outstanding achievement in football and looking at this year’s nominations it is clear that this has been an incredibly competitive year,” Taylor told BT Sport.

    “Each of the six men nominated for the players’ award could expect to be recognised by their fellow professionals, as they have each had a superb season individually and played significant roles in the success of their clubs this year,” he concluded.

    The full list:

    Steven Gerrard – Liverpool

    Eden Hazard – Chelsea

    Adam Lallana – Southampton

    Daniel Sturridge – Liverpool

    Luis Suarez – Liverpool

  • Mikel, first to arrive Atlanta for Mexico friendly

    Mikel, first to arrive Atlanta for Mexico friendly

    The national team camp is in high spirits as it gears up for tomorrow’s friendly with El Tri at the Georgia Dome

    According to goal.com, Chelsea‘s John Obi Mikel was the first player to arrive the Super Eagles camp in Atlanta, United States, ahead of Wednesday’s friendly with Mexico.

    Four players from the Nigeria league – Ejike Uzoenyi, Kunle Odunlami, Abdullahi Shehu and Azubuike Egwuekwe – have also arrived the city for the game that will be the last ahead of announcement of the World Cup squad in June.

    Team captain Joseph Yobo is expected to make his return to the starting squad after being dropped since the end of the Africa Cup of Nations in 2013.

    New invitees Ezekiel Imoh, Ramon Azeez and Michael Uchebo are also expected to stake a claim for a place in the World Cup squad.

    In Atlanta’s eight degree weather, the Super Eagles held their first work out on Monday evening under the watch of coach Stephen Keshi who had arrived at lunch time at the hotel. Keshi has been in the United States with his family since last month after the African Nations Championship.

    The team is expected to have its last training in the mainbowl of the Georgia Dome on Tuesday before Wednesday’s game.

    The Super Eagles will turn out in the new jerseys unveiled by the Nigeria Football Federation in Abuja last Thursday. With the uproar about the new colours, indications are that the House of Representatives sports committee would do an official enquiry into allegations that the colours were decided based on similarities with one of the team’s official sponsors.

    The match between the Super Eagles and El Tri will take place at 8pm local time on Wednesday in Atlanta, which is 2am in Nigeria on Thursday.

    FULL SQUADS (Source : goal.com)

    Nigeria

    Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Lille FC, France); Austin Ejide (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel)

    Defenders: Elderson Echiejile (Monaco FC, France); Efe Ambrose (Celtic FC, Scotland); Godfrey Oboabona (Rizespor, Turkey); Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves); Kenneth Omeruo (Middlesbrough FC, England); Juwon Oshaniwa (Ashdod FC, Israel); Joseph Yobo (Norwich City, England); Kunle Odunlami (Sunshine Stars)

    Midfielders: John Mikel Obi (Chelsea FC, England); Ogenyi Onazi (SS Lazio, Italy); Ramon Azeez (Almeria FC, Spain); Shehu Abdullahi (Kano Pillars); Ejike Uzoenyi (Enugu Rangers)

    Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Shola Ameobi (Newcastle United, England); Victor Moses (Liverpool FC, England); Emmanuel Emenike (Fenerbahce FC. Turkey); Obinna Nsofor (Chievo Verona, Italy); *Bright Dike (Toronto FC, Canada), Imoh Ezekiel (Standard Liege, Belgium); Michel Uchebo (Cercle Brugge, Belgium)

    Mexico

    Goalkeepers: Jesús Corona – Cruz Azul, Moisés Muñoz – America, Guillermo Ochoa – Ajaccio

    Defenders:  Paul Aguilar – Latin,  Enrique Pérez – Atlas, Juan Carlos Valenzuela – Latin,  Hector Moreno – Espanyol Barcelona, Rafael Marquez – Leon, Diego Reyes – Porto, Francisco Javier Rodriguez – Latin, Miguel Ponce – Toluca,  Layún Miguel – America

    Midfielders: Andrés Guardado – Bayer Leverkusen, José Juan Vazquez – Leon, Hector Herrera – Porto,  Juan Carlos Medina – America,  Isaac Brizuela – Toluca, Javier Aquino – Villarreal, Carlos Peña – Leon,  Luis Montes – Leon

    Strikers: *Giovani dos Santos – Villarreal, Alan Pulido – Tigers, Oribe Peralta – Santos, Javier Hernandez – Manchester United

  • Mikel may be loaned to Italian club

    Italy-based transfer market expert Alfredo Pedulla wrote on his website, alfredopedulla.com that Obi Mikel could depart Chelsea in the summer transfer window.

    In recent days, the Chelsea midfielder has been linked with Inter Milan while he has been courted by Napoli plus Juventus in the past.

    Alfredo Pedulla says the Nigeria international is likely to be shipped out on loan to an Italian club this June.

    Under contract with Chelsea for the next three years, Obi Mikel earns 3.5 million Euros annually at the Londoners.

    In the Premier League, he has made 9 out of a possible 28 starts this season.

  • Mikel holds Kano football clinic

    Mikel holds Kano football clinic

    Chelsea star Mikel Obi is to headline a special football clinic for Kano youths after the World Cup, government officials have announced.

    Special adviser on sports to Kano Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, Gara Gombe, told MTNFootball.com plans have been finalised for Mikel to conduct a clinic in football-mad Kano later in the year.

    “Mikel has agreed to headline a clinic for youths in Kano after the World Cup,” Gombe said.

    Football hot bed Kano is home of defending league champions Kano Pillars. As a prelude to the clinic, representatives of Mikel on Friday presented a special souvenir to Governor Kwankwaso, who is a big fan of the Nigeria star.

    Mikel has also specially invited the Governor to watch one of his English Premier League club games this season, Gombe said.

  • FA Cup: Mikel to start against Man City

    FA Cup: Mikel to start against Man City

    Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho looks set to start Super Eagles midfielder, John Mikel Obi in this weekend’s English FA Cup game against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium after report emerged that the ‘Happy One’ plans to rest a number of key players.

    John Terry, Ramires, Eden Hazard, Oscar, and Samuel Eto’o could all sit out the last-16 tie as the Blues boss has prioritised the Champions League and Premier League over the competition, according to The Mirror.

    Mourinho is believed to be keen to hand starts to Ashley Cole, John Obi Mikel, Frank Lampard, Andre Schurrle, Fernando Torres and new signing Mohamed Salah to give them match practise ahead of the Premier League run-in.

    Defender Gary Cahill will miss the cup tie with a calf injury, while midfielder Nemanja Matic is doubtful after limping off during Chelsea’s 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion.

  • Toure praises Mikel

    Toure praises Mikel

    Newly-crowned African Footballer of the Year for 2013, Yaya Toure has taken the time to praise the man he pipped to the accolade, John Obi Mikel.

    Toure said Mikel “deserves the award” as he described winning Africa’s individual top gong for the third consecutive year as “unbelievable.”

    “This is unbelievable. I am happy to be the winner. I congratulate Mikel who deserves it too. To be the winner was unbelievable. I thank all who supported me. I am very, very proud,” he said shortly after he was announced as the winner of the award.

    Nigerian midfielder, Mikel, finished as runner-up while Ivorian striker, Didier Drogba was third in the final classification.

    The last Nigerian to win the award was Nwankwo Kanu, who scooped the prestigious prize in 1999.

  • African Player of the Year: Nigerians disappointed Mikel not king

    African Player of the Year: Nigerians disappointed Mikel not king

    • Award’s procedure should be reviewed —Maigari

    Most Nigerians said they were left disappointed when Mikel Obi was not crowned African Footballer of 2013 on Thursday.

    Cote d’Ivoire’s Yaya Toure scooped a third straight African Footballer of the Year title in Lagos ahead of home boy Mikel.

    Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president Aminu Maigari said he was disappointed Mikel did not win the award and faulted the procedure used for the award.

    “I am disappointed that Mikel did not get this award. We have to review the procedure that is used to determine the winner of this award,” Maigari said.

    The national team coaches of the 54-member countries vote for 10 nominated players on a scale of 1-10 points with their top pick getting 10 points, while their least considered nominee gets a point.

    The cross section of fans who spoke with MTNFootball.com also said Mikel deserved the award more than Yaya Toure.

    Temitope Oguntoyinbo said Mikel made a bigger impact on African football last year than the Manchester City star.

    “Yaya Toure is a good player no doubt but I think Mikel merited the award more than him, he was robbed,” Oguntoyinbo argued.

    “Mikel was outstanding at the Nations Cup even against Toure in the quarterfinal. He played well at the FIFA Confederations Cup and won the Europa League. Yaya didn’t impress in games concerning Africa. I feel for Mikel.”

    Another fan, Idris Olamilekan said 2013 was Mikel’s year, but most Francophone countries decided to vote Mikel out and go for their own.

    “I feel bad Mikel didn’t win, he did everything right last week to win it. I think he lost it because Francophone countries decided to vote for their own Yaya Toure,” he maintained.

    “Yaya is a good player but was not ahead of Mikel last year. May be CAF needs to do something about how the winner is selected.”

    The coaches of the African countries were unanimous in their choice of Yaya with 28 of them picking him as their best, while only four teams including Nigeria voted Mikel.

    However, former Nigeria international Jonathan Akpoborie said Yaya was a worthy winner of the award.

    “Without sentiments, Yaya is Africa’s best by a mile,” Akpoborie declared.

    “I never had any doubts about him winning, although I truly wanted Mikel to win for Nigeria again. We all see the talent of Yaya Toure week in, week out, he is truly a gem.”

    Dele Ogunleye told MTNFootball.com said the Ivorian was ahead of his Nigerian rival.

    “I like Mikel and I’m also a Chelsea fan, so I wanted him to win the award, but Yaya is a revelation! He deserves it more than our own Mikel,” he said.

    “I heard a lot of people saying Mikel was robbed, to me that’s not true, Yaya was outstanding even at the Nations Cup and for his club. He scored lot of goals too. Individually, he has done better than Mikel.”

  • I wish Mikel had won CAF award – Minister

    I wish Mikel had won CAF award – Minister

    Sports Minister Bolaji Abdulahi on Friday expressed disappointment that Mikel Obi failed to clinch the Glo/CAF African Footballer of the Year Award.
    Abdulahi, made the remark in a chat with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
    He said that Yaya Toure of Cote d’Ivoire considered all the nominees in the category as worthy contenders despite the fact that he beat Mikel to the second position.
    The minister said, “I was hopeful that Mikel was going to win but it’s okay, he still has a long way to go; I mean there will be other opportunities.
    “But I can assure you that Mikel is the winner because every Nigerian in this hall wanted him to win.
    “I think that’s a good indication. For me that’s enough reason to celebrate. I congratulate Yaya Toure. In fact, he’s a great footballer.
    “He’s an excellent footballer; he deserves the award. Yeah, we feel disappointed that Mikel didn’t win but better luck, next time. “
    The minister urged the home-based Super Eagles now in South Africa for African Football Championship to strive hard in the competition scheduled to run from January 11 to February 1.
    “ They are a new team, and they have done well enough to qualify for the first time in our history for the CHAN.
    “I just will urge them to go to the tournament they are there in South Africa and do their best.
    “So I think it’s a good one for us that they are competing at all at the tournament,’’ he said.

  • Africa Footballer Award: Sambawa doubts Mikel

    Africa Footballer Award: Sambawa doubts Mikel

    Former Sports Minister, Saidu Samaila Sambawa has told SportingLife that Nigerian International, Mikel Obi has not done enough to emerge the Africa Footballer of the Year compared with the inspirational performance of Yaya Toure for Cote d’ Ivoire and Manchester City.

    General opinion has favoured the choice of Mikel to emerge as the 2013

    Africa Best Footballer as a result of his outstanding performance with the Super Eagles and Chelsea but Sambawa has a contrary opinion to the choice of Mikel, preferring Yaya Toure as worthy of winning the Award.

    “As a patriotic Nigerian, I want Mikel to win the Award because I happen to be the first person to give Mikel his first break through the 2005 World Youth Championship. I was also a major party in solving the transfer saga between Manchester United and Chelsea before Mikei finally joined Chelsea. But my personal opinion is that Mikel has not done enough for Club and country to edge out Yaya from winning the Award”, Sambawa disclosed.

    The former Sports Minister also argued that people are using the performance of the player at the Africa Cup of Nations as a yard stick for Mikel to win the Award but they have forgotten that the Eagles gelled as a team in the competition which also fired Mikel up in the competition.

    “My argument is that Chelsea and the Eagles can play well and win games without Mikel but Manchester City cannot do without Yaya in the team, while the Toure Junior is also the engine room for the Elephants of Cote d’ Ivoire. So I won’t be surprised if Toure eventually emerge the winner because he has done enough to win the Award. But I will be happy if Mikel wins as a Nigerian”, Sambawa disclosed.

  • Jose Mourinho hails fantastic Mikel

    Jose Mourinho hails fantastic Mikel

    • Eagles’ star scores 4 goals in 300 appearances

    John Obi Mikel continued what is fast turning to a fairy tale season in front of goal, as he broke his goals record for a season with Chelsea, following yet another strike in the FA Cup game at Derby.

    Mikel has never scored more than one goal in a season for the London side, but he has now netted twice, following on to scoring his first league goal for Chelsea earlier this season.

    The Eagles’ star goal in yesterday’s FA Cup tie was his fourth in 300 appearances for the Stamford Bridge side.

    Mikel and Oscar scored second half goals for the London side, to set up an FA Cup fourth round tie at home to Stoke and knock a resurgent Championship side, Derby out of the competition.

    Mikel headed in the opener from Willian’s cross in the 66th minute, before Oscar sealed a comfortable win with a bending shot five minutes later.

    Meanwhile, Mikel’s performance in the 2-0 victory over Derby County has received commendation from the Blues head coach Jose Mourinho.

    Mourinho in an interview after the encounter praised the careful attitude of the midfielder and disclosed he was full of smiles when Mikel found the back of the net.

    “Mikel plays in an intelligent and safe way, and there was a smile on my face when he scored. It was like a winning goal” The Portuguese coach is quoted as saying on the club’s official twitter account.