Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel is to bounce back to action come July 9. Return of the Eagles skipper will be a major boost for Nigeria as the Gernot Rohr tutored Eagles attempt to regain their momentum in the Nations cup qualifiers following the 2-1 loss to South Africa at the Nest of Champions in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state. At the club level, Tianjin Teda coaches and players are elated as recovery report on the Nigerian international indicates that he could be in shape for the club’s home tie against Shandong Luneng on July 9.

Meanwhile, the former Chelsea midfielder who doubles as captain of Tianjin Teda has reportedly charged his teammates to ensure they sing victory song Saturday as they host table toppers Guangzhou R&F at the Tianjin Tuanbo Soccer Stadium.

Though currently occupying the 12th position on the 16-team log, the recuperrating Tianjin Teda captain believes the team can gradually push their way to the top four by picking vital points away and avoiding losing points at home.

“”At every point home or away we must put in our very best,” he was quoted as telling his teammates who are eager to have him back in action.  The Nigerian international picked up an injury against Chongqing Lifan, forcing him to miss international duties especially

Super Eagles Nations Cup qualifiers against South Africa which saw the Eagles lose 2-1 at home to the Rainbow City boys for the first time in a competitive match.

At the club level the 30-year-old has missed ten games for the Tianjin Tigers since suffering a strain.

In other Chinese Super league fixtures this weekend, Nigerian international Obafemi martins who has been consistent for his side

Shanghai Shenhua will be hoping to register his name on the score sheet as they take on Yanbian Funde away.

On paper some Shanghai Shenhua     fans have said it should be tea party for their side who are 10th on the log against Yanbian Funde who are rooted in the relegation zone with just seven points in 13 matches. In the same vein, Super Eagles forward odion Ighalo and his Changchun Yatai teammates will attempt to rattle Chongqing Dangdai Lifan away. This weekend’s ties will mark the 14th game since the new season began in the Chinese Super League that is recording improved profile following the import of several top players from the English premier league and other leagues across the globe.

Former international Felix Owolabi has described Super Eagles performance against South Africa on Saturday as embarrassing and condemnable. He opined that the team did not only gamble with an opportunity to  improve the country’s chances of being at the  2019 Nations Cup in Cameroon after missing the Equatorial Guinea and Gabon editions, but also failed to show character as non of the departments from goalkeeping to midfield to attack showed desire to sing victory song on the occasion.

“”There was no leadership in the team, there was so much disconnect. For you to win a match you need an attack that is coordinated, a midfield that can feed the attack and above all you don’t need a defenceless defence,” It was indeed a bad outing and both players and technical crew share the blame, “he said

While admitting that there is nothing wrong with introducing new players to the national team, Owoblow as he was fondly called in his national team days, said it is a technical default to play so many new and unblended players in a crucial match like the Nations Cup qualifiers.

“Players need to be given a chance, so there is nothing wrong with introducing new players into the national team but it is a gradual process. You introduce them one at a time as they blend with experienced ones, you don’t throw many of them in a match at the same time, “he submitted

He however canvassed for inclusion of more local league players in the national team, noting that a number of them who have shown in the course of the league that they are capable of rising to the occasion.

“I don’t see why we shouldn’t have up to six players from the local league in the national team; the national team is about hunger to

excel,” added the 1980 Nations cup winner.

Nigeria will next turn attention to the World Cup qualifiers where the Eagles will face Lions of Cameroon August 28.

Many say the mother of all flops recorded on Saturday is an indication that the China legion of John Obi Mikel, Odion Ighalo, Brown Ideye as well as England based but sometimes elusive Victor Moses are being missed in the squad.