Super Eagles media officer, Toyin Ibitoye has refuted speculation making the rounds that Tianjin Teda of China midfielder, John Mikel Obi has retired from the Nigerian national teaml.
Sports247.ng gathered that speculation over Mikel’s future in the Eagles hit a climax on Monday, when he was for the fourth straight match left out of the list of invitees for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Mikel did not play away to Seychelles as well home and away against Libya, citing injury problems, but he continues playing for his club, in what observers says is suggestive of a decision to concentrate only on club activities, especially as he is advancing in age.
However, in reaction to the last whirlwind of critical comments trailing Mikel’s omission from the roster to battle South Africa and Uganda next month, Ibitoye stressed that the former Chelsea star remains Nigeria’s captain because he has not retired from international football.
The Eagles media officer, though, admitted that, at 31, Mikel is heading closer to the twilight of his career and, after debuting for the Eagles in 2005 and played in two editions of the World Cup (2014, 2018), he is gradually giving room to younger players to get their time in the team.
Ibitoye retorted: “Mikel has not retired from international football. He remains the captain of the national team.
“But the reality of it is that he is not getting any younger. The positive is that other players now have a chance to step up in his absence.”
However, Ibitoye’s explanation is slightly different from that of the coach, Gernot Rohr, who hinted that Mikel is on ‘sabbatical’ absence from the national team, in order to sort out pressing club issues.
The 31-year-old Mikel, who has 85 caps since he debuted against Libya 13 years ago, last played for the Eagles in a 2-1 loss to Argentina at the World Cup in Russia, but Rohr says the star wants to be left out for now.
Rohr added: ”Mikel told me that he will tell me when he will be ready to return. He didn’t tell me yet. So I wait. I hope that we can go with him to AFCON and win it for him.”
