Sports

Mikel Obi Named Super Eagles Captain [Update]

Published

9 years ago

March 24, 2016

Super Eagles Coach Samson Siasia has named Chelsea star, Mikel Obi the new Super Eagles captain, in Ahmed Musa’s stead.

This coming barely 24 hours to the crucial AFCON qualifier’s games against the Pharaohs of Egypt in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series.

Mikel was snubbed by former coach, Sunday Oliseh for captainship albeit one of the most senior players in the national team who opted for Ahmed Musa as replacement for Vincent Enyeama.

However, interim boss, Samson Siasia, at a press conference in Kaduna on Thursday, upturned the table for Mikel to get the captain’s armband.

Mikel represented Nigeria at the U-17 and U-20 levels at the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship and won the Silver Ball for the second-best player at the tournament.

He was runner-up behind Lionel Messi, as Nigeria finished second behing Argentina.

He made his debut for the Super Eagles on August 17, 2005, when he came on as a second-half substitute in a 1-0 friendly win over Libya.

He did not play for the national team again prior to being named in the squad for the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations.

Mikel made his FIFA World Cup debut during the 2014 tournament in Brazil, winning a Man-of-the-Match award in the Super Eagles’ opening game against Iran.

He helped the team to reach the knockout stage for the first time since 1998.

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