The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Mikel

  • BUMPER DEAL!!! Mikel pockets N800m

    BUMPER DEAL!!! Mikel pockets N800m

    Chelsea star 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).

    A top insider informed:  “Mikel hit it rich with the Amstel Malta advert as he will pocket about 800 million Naira over a number of years.

    “Nollywood actress Genevieve Nnaji, who also did another Amstel commercial, will pocket about half that amount.”

    Mikel’s Amtel commercial was a short peek into his rags-to-riches career, from playing on the streets of Jos to going on to join English Premier League giants Chelsea, playing for the Super Eagles at the World Cup and flying a private jet on his many travels.

    Endorsements have formed the bulk the earnings of world football’s top stars like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

  • RIO 2016 OLYMPICS: Siasia denies Mikel request

    RIO 2016 OLYMPICS: Siasia denies Mikel request

    Samson Siasia has said he  never discussed including Chelsea midfielder, John Obi Mikel, into Nigeria’s 2016 Olympic football squad with anyone.

    The local media was awash with stories that Mikel could be a shock inclusion to the squad with the players reportedly informing an unnamed “source” about his intention to play at the Olympics for Nigeria.

    Siasia has now moved to deny the rumours insisting that no one knows the identities of the players who will make the list.

    “Coach Siasia has not mentioned the name of any player who will be included in the Olympic team so I want to advise the Nigerian media to be patient.

    “When the list of players to be invited is released, it will be made available to the media. This issue of trying to be smart or trying to get exclusive (stories) is not going to help the team.

    “They will only heat up the polity because if eventually,  Siasia does not invite Mikel, there will be talk of the coach having a grudge against the Chelsea player. The coach has neither invited anyone, nor discussed who he plans to invite to the team,” Nigeria’s Under-23 team spokesman, Timi Ebikagboro told supersport.com.

    Mikel was excluded from the 2008 Nigeria Olympic team by Siasia after the Chelsea man failed to take part in the qualifiers for the tournament.

  • Galatasaray to bid N1.7bn for Mikel in January

    Galatasaray to bid N1.7bn for Mikel in January

    Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel could be heading out of Chelsea with a swooping of £6m (N1.7bn) bid from Turkish giant, Galatasaray in the January transfer window, according to Turkish Outlet newspaper.

    He has also been linked with Fenerbache in the past. The Nigeria international has struggled for first-team action this season despite the club’s woeful start to the season.

    Mikel has made just nine appearances for Jose Mourinho’s side, who lie 16th in the Premier League after monday night’s 2-1 defeat at Leicester.

    And according to Turkish Outlet Takvim, Galatasaray could put the midfielder out of his misery in January.

    The Istanbul club are reportedly ready to splash out £6m from the 28-year-old.

    Mikel’s current Chelsea contract expires in the summer of 2017.

    And with an extension to that deal looking unlikely, the Blues could look to sell in the new year to earn a better return.

  • Chelsea ouster: Mikel faces axe

    Chelsea ouster: Mikel faces axe

    The agent of Nigeria midfielder Mikel Obi has said they will adopt a wait-and-see approach as regards the player’s future at the Stamford Bridge.

    The 28-year-old Mikel has been at Chelsea since 2006 and speculations were rife in the summer he could quit the London club with Al Ain of Dubai as well as several top clubs in Turkey.

    Mikel’s agent John Shittu said Chelsea refused to sell in the summer.

    “The player had offers to move at the beginning of the season, but Chelsea refused to sell because they probably have him in their plans,” said Shittu.

    “Now we have to wait and see what happens.”

    However, this season Mikel has only made five appearances, starting only two of these games.

    The London-based agent also commented on the interest of several top European clubs for players of the victorious Golden Eaglets.

    “I started this 10 years ago with Mikel and other players in the U-17 team that the top clubs in Europe have to appreciate our players and so I’m not surprised that the current Eaglets are attracting such interest again,” he said.

  • CHELSEA’S SEASON WOES:Mikel gets 40% rating

    CHELSEA’S SEASON WOES:Mikel gets 40% rating

    • Nigerian’s passing accuracy drops to 88%

    Super Eagles midfielder John Obi Mikel received less than a pass mark in Chelsea players season rating dished out Monday as many continue to wonder why the London based side have turned into a yoyo.

    In the rating released by Daily Mail, Mikel was scored four out of 10 in season assessment so far.

    The Nigerian international who remains on the exit list of Jose Mourinho tutored Chelsea, had the following commentary recorded for him, “Mikel looks set to be a bit-part player for the rest of the campaign despite the team possibly benefiting from his experience.

    “At 28, the Nigerian should be in his prime, but seems destined to remain on the bench. He should probably get out as soon as possible”

    Aside from the submission one other minus for Mikel according to the rating is that his passing accuracy has dropped from 94% to 88% in the past 12 months.

    Only Brazilian William got 70% with Kurt Zouma,Gary Cahill, Cesar Azpilicueta registering 60%.

    The Blues are on the verge of losing a fifth match in 10 games. By contrast, they won eight of their first 10 games about the same stage last season.

  • Mikel mobbed in Belgium

    Mikel mobbed in Belgium

    John Mikel Obi might be warming the bench at Chelsea and finding it hard to convince some Nigerians of his ability as a great football talent but the Jos born midfielder is arguably the biggest star in the Nigeria national team camp in Belgium; judging by the attention he has drawn to himself from locals as the three-time African champions prepare to face Congo and Cameroon in seperate international friendlies.

    Camp sources revealed that Mikel, who surprisingly was one of the earliest arrival in camp has continually been swamped on by children and adults alike who seek to get autographs from the Chelsea star.

    Mikel has conspicuously been missing in action in recent times for Nigeria and he did court some controversies when at the beginning of the reign of the new coach Sunday Oliseh he was accused of playing hide and seek.

    The Chelsea star is indeed hoping to shut his critics as the Eagles get set for the crunch clashes with the Congo Dr and Cameroon national teams.

  • Mikel won’t miss Eagles’ friendlies

    Mikel won’t miss Eagles’ friendlies

    John Obi Mikel, 28, will honour his latest invitation to the national team for the upcoming friendlies against Democratic Republic of Congo and Cameroon, contrary to reports.

    It is being speculated in the media back in his homeland that the Chelsea midfielder might skip both international friendlies as he wants to spend time with his Russian fiancee, Olga Diyachenko and his twin daughters.

    But a representative of Mikel has dismissed those claims as baseless, pointing out that he travelled to Portugal with the Chelsea squad for their Champions League clash against Porto and can’t wait to join his international teammates after close to a year in the international wilderness.

    “Certainly Mikel is coming for the games, he has arranged all his things and is just waiting, ” a representative of Obi Mikel told allnigeriasoccer.com.

    “He has spoken to Sunday Oliseh and they have settled their differences. Why will he travel with Chelsea and won’t travel to join his national team? The games will be played in Europe (Belgium) and not Nigeria.”

    Obi Mikel last wore the jersey of the Super Eagles on November 19, 2014 in an African Cup of Nations qualifier against South Africa.

  • ENYEAMA, MIKEL IN EAGLES’ 24- MAN LIST FOR LEOPARDS, LIONS

    ENYEAMA, MIKEL IN EAGLES’ 24- MAN LIST FOR LEOPARDS, LIONS

    Super Eagles’ Head Coach, Sunday Oliseh, has listed goalkeeper and skipper Vincent Enyeama, midfielder John Mikel Obi and forwards Victor Moses and Odion Ighalo among 24 players for next month’s friendly internationals against Democratic Republic of Congo and Cameroon in Belgium.

    Enyeama is joined by England –based Carl Ikeme, who in his debut kept clean sheets against Tanzania and Niger Rep. in two internationals earlier this month, as well as home –based stars Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Femi Thomas. Former junior international defender Abdullahi Shehu gets his first opportunity at senior level, and Moses Simon, who scored against Niger Republic, is also considered, alongside home boys Chima Akas, Austin Oboroakpo, Paul Onobi and Prince Aggrey. There is also room for Watford FC of England striker Odion Ighalo.

    The Super Eagles play the Leopards of the Democratic Republic of Congo on October 8 and the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon three days later, in Belgium, as the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) activates its plan to entrench stronger bond and cohesion among the relatively new group, through several friendly matches. The winner of the preliminary round between Swaziland and Djibouti will host the Super Eagles on November 9 in a 2018 FIFA World Cup first round qualifier, with the Eagles hosting the return leg in Nigeria eight days later.

    All invited players are expected to arrive in Belgium on  October 5.

    THE FULL SQUAD

    GOALKEEPERS: Vincent Enyeama (Lille OSC, France); Carl Ikeme (Wolves, England); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Sunshine); Femi Thomas (Enyimba FC)

    DEFENDERS: Leon Balogun (FSV Mainz, Germany); Abdullahi Shehu (Uniao da Madeira, Portugal); Elderson Echiejile (AS Monaco, France); Chima Akas (Sharks FC); Godfrey Oboabona (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)

  • Chelsea clear-out: Mikel faces sack

    Chelsea clear-out: Mikel faces sack

    •Fabregas, Terry, Falcao, Ivanovic, two others

    Nigeria international John Obi Mikel has been listed among the seven players who are simply no longer good enough and who need to be shown the door and replaced by Chelsea.

    The axe was as a result of Chelsea poor showing as they went down 3-1 at Everton. Mikel made his season’s first team line up in the clash.

    According to a report, emanating in England on Sunday, revealed that Mikel’s performances on that day were not impressive before he was replaced by Robert Kenedy after 55 minutes of play.

    The former youth international was linked with a move out of Stamford Bridge during the transfer window but Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho believed to have stopped the move.

    The 28-year-old midfielder was rated 5/10 in the match as he was considered not good enough for Chelsea any longer.

    “Finally, John Obi Mikel got a rare chance yesterday (Saturday) against Everton and didn’t impress, with Chelsea surely in need of a younger and more well-rounded central midfielder to partner Nemanja Matic. (He’s) not good enough for Chelsea any longer, Mikel did not adequately protect his defence and was taken off early by Jose Mourinho,” reports say.

    Apart from Mikel, other players that could be victims of a Chelsea clear out are:

    John Terry

    Club captain and Chelsea legend, John Terry’s time as a star player for the Blues is sadly up after a poor start to the season. The writing has looked on the wall for the 34-year-old since Jose Mourinho subbed him off at half time against Manchester City and he surely needs replacing by a younger player at the back.

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    Cesc Fabregas

    Not the player he looked like at the start of last season, Cesc Fabregas needs to be offloaded and replaced by a big name like Paul Pogba, who can offer more of a goal threat.

    Radamel Falcao

    Decent as a backup striker, Radamel Falcao isn’t really good enough to be playing regularly for Chelsea, as he may have to do at the moment due to the poor form and injury proneness of Diego Costa.

    Branislav Ivanovic

    Horribly out of form at the start of this season, Ivanovic looks over the hill and in need of replacing with a younger, quicker and more skillful right-back.

    Willian

    A player without the required skill and flair to truly change a game, Willian needs to be replaced by a top class attacker in the mould of Antoine Griezmann, or indeed recent signing Pedro.

    Loic Remy

    Another backup player who is barely good enough to be a backup, Loic Remy is too injury prone and drifts out of games too much to be considered a reliable option up front.

  • Eagles door still open for Mikel-Oliseh

    Eagles door still open for Mikel-Oliseh

    In his post-match comments immediately after Nigeria beat Niger 2 – 0 in an international friendly on Tuesday afternoon, coach Sunday Oliseh has hinted that he will not invite John Obi Mikel to the national team if he keeps sitting on the bench.

    The Nigeria manager omitted the Chelsea midfielder from his squad list announced for the Afcon qualifier against Tanzania and yesterday’s friendly after he claimed he was not able to speak to the player whilst in England on a scouting trip.

    Asked if there’s still room for Mikel Obi and Victor Moses, Oliseh replied Supersport TV: “Yes there is room for everybody, all I am just asking them is we need them to have playing time.

    “Like you see today everybody who played for Nigeria played for their respective clubs and at the same time they are showing the hunger.

    “And the ones who played today have started picking up points, so obviously those coming will have to fight to get into the team but that’s what we want for Nigeria.”

    Mikel has had only 6 minutes of game time so far this season from a possible 540 minutes.