Is Mikel Still A Super Eagles Player? Rohr Has A Fresh Update On Chelsea Legend

Published: November 26, 2018

Gernot Rohr has revealed that Chelsea legend John Obi Mikel has not retired from international football and only asked to be left out of the rosters for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers owing to concerns about his fitness.

In truth, the central midfielder has struggled to overcome his injury problems, making only seven appearances for Chinese club Tianjin Teda from a possible eighteen since the end of the 2018 World Cup.

Arsenal winger Alex Iwobi played in his favoured number ten position in the last four Super Eagles games due to the nonavailability of Mikel while Iheanacho was assigned the role against Seychelles in September.

''The situation with Mikel is that after the World Cup, he wanted to take a little break from the national team,'' Rohr told Sports Editors at a media parley.

''And the other time we were in touch, he told me, 'honestly I’m not fit. But when I’ll be fit, I‘ll let you know'.

''He was injured in the last games of his club, so he could not come. We will see what happens in the future.''

Ex-Leicester City star Ahmed Musa has been handed captaincy duties post-World Cup, assisted by William Troost-Ekong.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel