Sports247.ng can report that it was Middlesbrough of England midfielder, John Mikel Obi who personally opted out of the Super Eagles’ list of invitees to battle Seychelles and Egypt in Asaba.
With Mikel looking good in regular action with Middlesbrough, since joining the lower division side in January, Nigerian soccer fans had been expectant of Mikel finally returning to the Eagles and get his first match for Nigeria since the World Cup, but the skipper was not invited.
However, Eagles’ coach, Gernot Rohr has now revealed that it was Mikel himself that asked to be excused from the list of invitees, as the former Lyn Oslo of Norway, Chelsea of England and Tianjin Teda of China star says he is not ready for national team action just yet.
However, the development is bound to further raise speculation among Nigerians that Mikel has stylishly retired from the Eagles, considering that he also kept giving excuses to stay away from every other match after the Mundial in Russia.
After skipping the away fixture with Seychelles, Mikel stayed away from the home and away ties with Libya as well as away to South Africa, thereby making it four straight competitive matches he has missed, plus two international friendlies – versus Liberia and Uganda.
For each of those matches, the explanations had been that Mikel was facing fitness and stability issues at Tianjin Teda, but seeing him back in full action at Boro caused a revival of hope that he would be back in the Eagles for the last match of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The game with Seychelles on March 22 at Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba is a mere formality, as the Eagles have already qualified with AFCON 2019 with a match to spare, which would have made it an apt chance for Mikel to return in a game that has nothing at stake.
However, Rohr has raised more suspense over his captain’s future in the Nigerian national team, as the Franco-German gaffer says the midfield ace is still nursing an injury that will not allow him play for the Eagles just yet, which observers would say is being economical with the truth.
Rohr stated: “He told me he was not ready and needs to work after his knee injury in China. He did not play all winter either.
“He is not ruled out of the AFCON, but he could not make this match in Asaba. We will see for the future.”
