The Debate Goes On And On And On As Mikel Insists He Scored A Valid Goal

Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel has rubbished suggestions that his goal for the Super Eagles versus Algeria should not have stood, amid claims that he was offside in the build-up.

Television replays showed that Gambian referee Bakary Papa Gassama and his assistant made the correct decision as Mikel was not beyond the Algerian defender when the ball was passed to him by Etebo.

“I had just one thing at the back of my mind and that was to put the ball in the back of the net, ’’ Mikel told reporters at Saturday’s press conference.

“I controlled the ball, looked up to see if I was offside but when I saw that the assistant referee did not raise his flag, I decided to carry on.

“I looked at the goalkeeper and he was standing at the left side with the other side wide open so I decided to put the ball there.’’

All the five goals scored by Mikel for the senior national team were in competitive fixtures, against Zimbabwe, Benin, Liberia, Uruguay and Algeria.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel