Mikel : My Father Woke Me Up To Watch Nigeria Beat Brazil At Atlanta 1996

Team Nigeria captain John Obi Mikel has stated that Nigeria beating Brazil in the semifinal of Atlanta 1996 inspired him to become a footballer.

And the Chelsea midfielder has targeted winning the gold medal in Rio to inspire another generation of young footballers in his homeland.

“I remember a little . I remember that day I was sleeping , my father woke me up. I remember the goals,” Mikel told reporters, according to TV Globo.

“This inspired me to take the game seriously and to be who I am today . I hope we can now win gold again to inspire young children in Nigeria.”

Mikel, 29, has won the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, Champions League, Europa League and African Cup of Nations, and wants to add the Olympic title to his rich resume.

“It is something missing in my career. I never played the Olympics, this is my first . My goal here is to win the gold medal , it is what moves me .

“Coming here I spoke to the coach  , we are all here walking in the same direction , me, him and the rest of the players .

“That’s the reason I’m here. I hope to return to the house with gold.”

Nigeria U23s will qualify for their third final at the Olympic Games if they see off Germany on Wednesday night in Sao Paulo.

Igho Kingsley