Nigeria Press Conference : Mikel On Super Eagles Return, Favorite Tag, Possibility Of Quitting After AFCON
Published: June 21, 2019John Obi Mikel says the Super Eagles players are confident ahead of their 2019 Africa Cup of Nations opener against Burundi at the Alexandria Stadium, Alexandria on Saturday evening.
Of the 23 players included on Nigeria's roster to the Africa Cup of Nations, only the former Chelsea midfielder, Ahmed Musa and Kenneth Omeruo have featured in the tournament before.
Mikel, who has returned to the squad after a one-year self-imposed sabbatical, pointed out that manager Gernot Rohr chose the appropriate players to compete in the tournament, including a group of young players who should be encouraged.
"I've been away from the team for over a year now but I was always in contact with the team and I knew the team was in good hands,'' said Mikel at Friday's pre-match press conference.
''Everyone thinks we are favorites but we are not looking at it like that we just want to qualify and then kick on and do great things.
''The last we were here we won but we've missed out on a few but we are confident. There are just the three of us who have the experience but the blend in the team is good.''
On the possibility of retiring from the national team after the AFCON, Mikel who made his tournament debut thirteen years ago said : ''It's not a bad place to finish! I started here in 2006 and we came third so Egypt has always been good to me.
''This time hopefully we can do better. I'm not 100% sure this is my last one but maybe''.
''This time hopefully we can do better. I'm not 100% sure this is my last one but maybe''.
Mikel has played 87 games for Nigeria and scored six goals during his international career, which began in August 2005.
Ifeanyi Emmanuel
Latest News
- Rangers boss provides fitness update on Super Eagles CB ahead of Scottish FA Cup final v Celtic
- Ex-Celtic midfielder tears into Dessers after close-range miss in Rangers' six-goal thriller v Hearts
- Birmingham City exercise option to extend contract of son of former Super Eagles midfielder
- Invincibles: Victor Boniface on target as Bayer Leverkusen match Arsenal and Juventus feat
- U17 WWCQ Nigeria 6 Burkina Faso 0: Harmony Chidi's hat-trick inspires Flamingos to victory
- Isaac Success and Nollywood beauty Caroline Igben to wed on June 8, a day after Super Eagles v Bafana Bafana
- Noni Madueke cites Man Utd legend, ex-Chelsea winger, 2 others as players who influenced his game
- Arsenal's Junaid cleared to play in England's historic U17 Euro final v Spain after missing back-to-back games
- English-German-Nigerian fullback returns to Southampton but ineligible to face Leeds in billion-naira game
- 'Participated in 50 percent of the matches'- Napoli president De Laurentiis aims dig at Osimhen
Football News 24/7
News Categories
- Football Betting
- African Players
- Australia/ Asia
- Belgian Championship
- Bundesliga
- Danish Football
- English Premier League
- Nigeria National Teams
- Nigeria Premier League
- Norwegian Football
- Polish Football
- Russian Championship
- Serie A
- Spanish Liga
- Swedish Championship
- Transfer
- Turkish Championship
- Ukrainian Football
- Uncategorized
- Women's Football