Former PSG of France defender, Godwin Opara has opined that the Super Eagles will miss their captain, John Mikel Obi in their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier away to South Africa.
However, while affirming that the Tianjin Teda of China star would be missed direly on November 17 at FNB Stadium, Johannesburg, Opara believes it would be the chance of other players to step up.
Opara stated as much Thursday on a popular radio sports programme monitored by sports247.ng in Lagos, during which the Scotland ’89 FIFA U-17 World Cup revelation stressed that Nigeria has a vast array of players to pick from.
Opara, who went on to star for Alst of Belgium after his heroics at the Cadet Mundial, while Brazilian legend, King Pele singled him out for accolades, said he would have loved to see Mikel play against Bafana Bafana, but stressed that the Eagles will have to do without him.
He admitted Mikel’s absence was part of the reasons why South Africa won the first leg 2-0 in Uyo, but ‘Alan Ball’ added that a single player’s nonavailability should not be an obstacle to a while team’s progress.
Opara said: “I know they will miss Mikel, that’s for sure, because he is their captain, but there are other players in the team as well.
“Almost all the players are from abroad, they have they own clubs in Europe or elsewhere, which makes them equally good and we expect them to be able to show their own quality as well.”
