'The Other Teams Are Progressing' - Ex-Mali Captain Sylla Questions Rohr's Decision To Include Mikel In AFCON Squad

Published: July 08, 2019

Former Mali captain Yacouba Sylla has questioned the decision of manager Gernot Rohr to include Chelsea icon John Obi Mikel on the Super Eagles roster for the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations.

Mikel is participating in his fifth AFCON and is eleven games away from playing 100 matches for the Super Eagles since his debut fourteen years ago.

Sylla claimed that other African sides are injecting fresh blood into their squads while Nigeria have been playing with the same set of players for four years.

The midfielder's statements do not add up, with as many as ten players in the current Super Eagles squad making their international debuts after 2015.

They include Ola Aina, Oghenekaro Etebo, Henry Onyekuru, Samuel Chukwueze, Paul Onuachu, Daniel Akpeyi, Samuel Kalu, Chidozie Awaziem, Victor Osimhen and Francis Uzoho.

Asked to comment on Rohr's role in Nigeria's recent performances, Sylla told Get French Football News : ''The way I see it is that Nigeria needs some refreshment.

''It’s a team that has been built around the same core for around four years, and they need to change a little and inject some new players.

''With all due respect to him, when you see that John Obi Mikel is still present… You need the motivation to change.

''I understand, some have been in the team a long time and won, it’s becoming a little bit routine while the other teams are progressing.''

Mikel started Nigeria's AFCON opener against Burundi and the last group game vs Madagascar but was not available for selection in the round of 16 clash against Cameroon due to injury.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel