The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Mikel

  • …Says ‘We are a special team’

    …Says ‘We are a special team’

    John Mikel Obi says this Super Eagles squad is a special group of players, who will surprise many at the World Cup.

    The Chelsea star and his teammates are one game away from reaching next year’s World Cup in Brazil, and the midfielder is confident they can make a mark.

    “We have a very special group here, a very special team so if we go through, we’re going to surprise a lot of people,” he told KickOffNigeria.com.

    It will be Mikel’s first World Cup, after he missed the last one with an injury, and he admits that it will be a satisfying moment.

    “For me it’s going to be special because I missed out on the last one with a knee injury,” he said.

    “But it will be the same for everyone in the team as well, that’s why we are working very hard towards this goal.

    “A lot of the guys haven’t been there either, so we are all working very hard and hopefully we will get the result we are hoping for.”

    Mikel glittered at the Confederations Cup in Brazil earlier this year, a tournament used as a dress rehearsal for the World Cup proper, and he is hoping for a repeat.

    “I had a very good tournament in Brazil and I hope it continues. If we get to the World Cup, it’s going to be a great tournament for us because of the team we have here.”

  • Keshi happy with BBC award nominations

    Keshi happy with BBC award nominations

    Nigeria head coach, Stephen Keshi, has expressed his excitement about John Obi Mikel and Victor Moses nomination for the 2013 BBC African Footballer of the Year award.

    On Monday, the BBC revealed the shortlist for this year via its Newsday programme.

    The three other shortlisted players are – Jonathan Pitroipa of Burkina Faso, Gabon’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Ivory Coast midfielder, Yaya Toure, who made the shortlist for the fifth successive year.

    Keshi, 51, said the nomination of Mikel and Moses shows that the African champions are now competing with the best on the continent.

    He revealed how he spoke to Super Eagles members on resumption as head coach of the team two years ago on worming their ways into winning individual honours while balancing their ethics as team players at the same time.

    “I’m hearing this for the first time. I’ve been busy preparing for the World Cup game against Ethiopia. But I’m happy to hear this and it is pleasant news for the players, the team and the nation. I hope one of them can win it.

    “I must say this is a result of hard work, commitment and open-mindedness to learn and make sacrifices as individuals and as a team. When I became coach of the team I sat down with the boys and made it clear that they have the ability to be rated among the best players in not just Africa but the world.

    “These boys already know much about the game and I’m sure I can’t start teaching like small boys. I try as much as possible to make them feel like they are in a family which is important and it has worked well for us and that’s why we have players being nominated for awards now. But it’s down to the good work of the players, coaches and officials.

    “Now I am confident that we are on the verge of good things to come once we continue with this same pace and I am happy that what we started two years ago is bearing fruits. I hope one of them will win the award this year,” Keshi told supersport.com.

    The 2013 BBC African Footballer of the Year “winner will be decided by African football fans” through a voting process that will run till November 25, according to the BBC.

    Austin Okocha was the last Nigerian to win the BBC award in 2004 after he had won it the previous year.

     

     

  • Mikel, Moses, Toure listed for BBC award

    Mikel, Moses, Toure listed for BBC award

    The five candidates for the 2013 BBC African Footballer of the Year award have been revealed on the BBC’s Newsday programme.

    Ivory Coast’s Yaya Toure has made the shortlist for the fifth consecutive year and is joined by Nigerians Victor Moses and John Mikel Obi, Burkina Faso’s Jonathan Pitroipa and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Gabon.

    The winner will be decided by African football fans, who have until 18:00 GMT on November 25 to vote for their choice.

    The winner will be announced on Monday, December 2 at 17:35 GMT on the BBC’s Focus on Africa radio and television programmes.

    No player on this year’s shortlist, drawn up from votes by 44 journalists across Africa, has won the BBC award before and two – Pitroipa and Aubameyang – are the first nominees from their respective countries.

    Aubameyang, 24, has been in prolific form over the past year – ending the 2012-13 season with 19 goals for St-Etienne, which put him second in the list of top scorers in the French Ligue 1, while he also helped the club win the French Cup to claim his first trophy as a professional.

    Those performances earned him a summer transfer to Champions League runners-up Borussia Dortmund, and he has already scored seven goals in 11 games for the German side.

    Pitroipa’s biggest highlights came on the international stage as the 27-year-old winger was named player of the tournament at the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa, helping Burkina Faso to reach the final.

     

  • 2014 FIFA world cup: Mikel: Eagles won’t throw ticket away

    2014 FIFA world cup: Mikel: Eagles won’t throw ticket away

    Mikel Obi has told MTNFootball.com Nigeria will qualify for the 2014 World Cup this weekend as they hold their own destiny. The  Eagles have a leg in Brazil 2014 having defeated Ethiopia 2-1 in Addis Ababa last month, but Mikel has warned that the job is not done yet. Midfielder Mikel also spoke about Jose Mourinho and Chelsea this season.

    Millions of Nigerians believe the Eagles have already booked a place in Brazil 2014 after the 2-1 win in Ethiopia in the first leg of the playoff, do you share same with them?

    We are not yet there but almost. We still have a leg to play in Nigeria, so after that we can celebrate our ticket.

    Do you see Ethiopia posing a threat to the Eagles World Cup ambition despite the first leg win?

    They are a good side, there are no small teams in world football again, but we are the ones to make decisions. We are not looking for favours from anywhere. We have the ticket in our hands and we have our destiny in our hands, so we are not going to throw it away.

    What has been the driving force in the Eagles?

    We are united as one family, we are all dedicated to the cause of the team, that’s all.

    How is the approach to the return leg against Ethiopia going to be?

    We are taking it serious. It is crucial and as for me, it is a cup final that we need to win. I am sure that is the situation with every other member of the team.

    Chelsea under Jose Mourinho the second time, how has it been?

    Everyone knows the ability of Mourinho, he is one of the best in the world. It is good to be working with him again.It has been nice,he brought me here and gave me the breakthrough.He knows how to get the best out of the players.

    What are your targets with Chelsea?

    As usual,I want to win all the trophies at stake. My mentality has been to win in any competition I play. I think we are good enough to win all the trophies we are in, though it is too early to write off any team or think a trophy is won or lost.

    You have another Nigerian, Kenneth Omeruo, as your team mate after Victor Moses left for Liverpool on loan, how has it been?

    It is good to have a brother around. He is a nice guy and a good player. It is wonderful to have him around.

  • Chelsea fans hail Mikel/ Essien combination

    Chelsea fans hail Mikel/ Essien combination

    John Obi Mikel may be heading for a new lease of life despite the transfer rumours circulating around him, following a massive vote of confidence by Chelsea fans on Tuesday.

    The Nigerian international was handed a rare start by Jose Mourinho for the Capital One Cup game against Arsenal, and he seemed to pass with flying colours.

    The former FIFA U20 and Olympics star had been chalked down as one of the players likely to be on the chopping block in January, but all that seemed to change with the game against London rivals, Arsenal.

    Chelsea fans and some journalists went on social media to pass comments on his game, and all were positive.

    “Mata getting the plaudits but Nigeria/Ghana combination of Mikel Obi & Essien were superb. Overpowered Ramsey & Wilshere in midfield, wrote BBC reporter, John Bennett on: @JohnBennettBBC

    That tweet was reposted almost 500 times, as other fans agreed.

    Another fan wrote on the same media:

    “Mikel and Essien made the Gunners midfield look really lightweight, this was from James Moscardini: @jamesmoscardini

    And finally, Lewis Doe, writing on HITC sports, concluded by asserting:

    ‘So Mourinho has three choices; use Mikel, use Essien or use them both and there is a good case for each, but the impressive way they protected the defence suggests the latter could be the way forward’

    And this might just be the move that will further advance Mikel’s Chelsea career.

  • Mikel congratulates Hazard on Ballon d’O nomination

    Mikel congratulates Hazard on Ballon d’O nomination

    Super Eagles midfielder, John Obi Mikel, has expressed delight over the inclusion of his club mate Eden Hazard in the Men’s shortlist for the 2013 FIFA Ballon d’Or list.

    The Belgium international made the final cut of players that will rival favourites, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to the game’s most coveted individual award.

    The list of 23 male candidates was been drawn up by football experts from the FIFA Football Committee and by a group of experts from France Football.

    Mikel in a statement on his twitter handle congratulated Hazard on his nomination and also lauded club coach Jose Mourinho’s nomination for the coach of the year.

    “Congratulations to Eden Hazard for being nominated for the 2013 FIFA Ballon d’O award and also Morinho and Benitez for their nomination for the FIFA coach of the year” The midfielder tweeted.

    After helping his side to a Capital One Cup quarter final ticket on Tuesday against Arsenal, the 26-year old star will now look forward to Saturday’s Premier League trip to St James’ Park where he will come up against the Ameobis.

    Meanwhile Chelsea are awaiting the next midweek winner in the League Cup tie between Sunderland and Southampton as their opponent for the next round of the League Cup match.

    Sunderland take on Southampton next Wednesday 6 November for the right to host Mourinho’s men in the week commencing 16 December.

  • Revealed: Mourinho wanted to sell Mikel for Fernandinho

    Revealed: Mourinho wanted to sell Mikel for Fernandinho

    The story of how a Manchester City midfielder saved Super Eagles midfielder, John Obi Mikel from exiting Chelsea last summer has finally been told.

    There were constant speculations last summer that Mikel would be sold by Chelsea, but it all came to nothing, despite the Nigerian being linked to several teams.

    But just before Chelsea faced City in a Premiership game on Sunday, a part of the story was told.

    Football website, eatsleepsports.com claimed in an interview with Manchester City’s Fernandinho that the Brazilian was meant to be Mikel’s replacement.

    “The 28-year-old was reportedly on Jose Mourinho’s wishlist as he looked to sign a replacement for John Obi Mikel, only for Manchester City to beat him to the punch by signing the Brazilian for £34million from Shakhtar Donetsk,” the site wrote.

    “Fernandinho has revealed that he only learned of the Blues’ interest after he had agreed to join City but claims to have no regrets over his decision to move to the Etihad Stadium this year,” it further asserted.

    Mikel has not enjoyed as much playing time under Mourinho since the Portuguese returned, he’s made only five league appearances this season.

     

  • Fans mob Mikel, others on arrival

    Fans mob Mikel, others on arrival

    The Super Eagles were mobbed as their chartered plane landed Addis Ababa, the City that will host the crunch World Cup qualifier between the African Champions and the Walya Antelopes.

    The fans, who will come out in their thousands today, to try and be the 12th man for their side, put all patriotism aside, as they openly admired the Nigerian team that is chocked full of European stars. The reports further stated that John Obi Mikel, who has won two European trophies in the past two years with English Premiership side Chelsea, was one of the main focal points.

    The Nigerian national team won their first ever Nations Cup medal in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia, in 1976 when the Green Eagles, as the team was then known, came home with the Bronze medal.

  • Ethiopia fans dying to see Mikel, Moses

    Ethiopia fans dying to see Mikel, Moses

    Many Ethiopian fans are not only looking forward to the match between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Walyas Antelopes of Ethiopia but once in a lifetime opportunity of seeing Nigerians tars plying their trade in the English Premier League.

    Many of the fans who spoke with SportingLife on Friday expressed happiness at the prospect of meeting Chelsea midfielder, Mikel Obi and on-loan Liverpool striker, Victor Moses, who they only watch on television.

    According to Beleke Tesfu, a taxi driver, who noted that Mikel has been wonderful in Chelsea midfield, congratulates the Nigerian for scoring his first premier League goal for the Blues.

    “Mikel is my player anytime any day. I’m a Chelsea fan and enjoyed how he plays. Even I was very happy when he scored his first goal in the premiership some weeks back. I learnt the Nigerian team will be arriving for the match on Saturday (today), I will be at the stadium as early as possible to welcome them, especially my Mikel.

    Another fan, Shinma Fuyma, a contraction worker, said he can’t wait to meet Victor Moses face to face as he is also planning to be at the airport.

    “My African brother, though this game is an important one for us, what I’m really happy for about this game is that it will give me the opportunity of meeting some of the Nigerian foreign players in the Premiership who I’ve been watching every week.

    “My best player is Moses (Victor). I loved him more when he joined my team Liverpool on loan. Though I wonder why Mourinho will loan out such a player, I still hope we can get him on a permanent deal,” he said.

  • Mikel unfazed by Ethiopia’s ‘bumpy’ pitch

    Mikel unfazed by Ethiopia’s ‘bumpy’ pitch

    Chelsea star Mikel Obi has said he is unfazed by reports the Eagles will play on a “bumpy” pitch in Ethiopia in Sunday’s World Cup playoff.

    The Nigeria advance party to Ethiopia led by the Nigeria Football Federation technical committee chairman Chris Green has already warned the players that they will play on a bumpy pitch at the Addis Ababa National Stadium.

    However, Mikel has assured the Eagles will cope with the poor pitch.

    “We have heard about the poor pitch, but that should not stop us from qualifying for the World Cup because most of us started on such pitches,” Mikel told MTNFootball.com

    “Personally, I started my football on the streets of Jos, playing with stones and rocks, and I know the various injuries and problems we suffered doing that.

    “I don’t have a problem with such a pitch as long as it is not an artificial pitch.

    “Our focus is qualification for the World Cup and so we hope to win on Sunday.”

    Fellow Eagles star, Victor Obinna Nsofor, also told MTNFootball.com they are very much aware of the difficult local conditions in Ethiopia.

    The Lokomotiv Moscow striker, who was part of the team who played out a 2-2 draw with Ethiopia two years ago, insisted a sharp change in weather, bumpy pitch and a partisan home crowd will not affect them.

    “We are not taking the Ethiopians for granted, we are aware of what we are going there to face on Sunday. I played there in 2011 and I know how bad the pitch was, we expect same on Sunday,” Nsofor said.

    “The weather too wasn’t friendly and the fans will be there to support their team. But we know all these and they won’t affect us because they are not strange to us.

    “We have prepared well for the game. We believe in ourselves and God will crown our efforts.”