Mikel Congratulated By Teammates After Helping Nigeria Qualify For World Cup

Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel has resumed training with Chinese Super League club Tianjin Teda after international duty with the national team.

The former Chelsea star was supposed to start training with his team on Thursday but took part in Wednesday afternoon's session upon his return to China.

Before the start of the workout, Mikel was congratulated by his teammates for helping Nigeria qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, a tournament the most populous nation in the world failed to qualify for.

Tianjin Teda had been struggling to stay afloat while their Nigerian star was receiving treatment, but a revival in form has seen them escape the relegation places following two wins on the bounce before the international break.

The number ten went the distance in both matches, taking his appearances to 9 in the league.

Barring a major change of circumstances, Obi Mikel will be playing in his second World Cup next summer, an injury had ruled him out of the 2010 tournament in South Africa.

Tianjin Teda travel to Obafemi Martins's Shanghai Shenhua in their next CSL fixture on Sunday.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel