Mikel Agu has been ruled out of the 2016 Olympic Games despite making Nigeria’s provisional roster, with Porto higher-ups ordering the midfielder to return to Portugal with immediate effect.

It has come to light that the Primeira Liga powerhouse never wanted to release Mikel to the Nigeria Football Federation, but his intermediary finally had his way when he claimed that his client has been included in the list of 18 players for the competition in Brazil.

“Mikel will not travel with the Nigeria U23s to the United States and it is safe to say he is out of the Olympic Games. Porto asked him to return to Portugal immediately for pre-season, ” a top source told allnigeriasoccer.com.

“His agent deceived Porto that he was included in the final 18-man list, that he is not coming to Nigeria for trials.

“The new coach (Nuno Espirito Santo) says he wants him in pre-season. He will leave Abuja as from today. ”

Dream Team VI coach Samson Siasia had earlier informed this website that Mikel will not train with the squad in the United States, so there were raised eyebrows when his name was included in the provisional roster.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel