'Iwobi Does Not Start Regularly For Arsenal, Leicester Not A 'Big' Club' - Rohr In Search Of A Midfielder To Replace Mikel

Super Eagles manager Gernot Rohr has more or less confirmed that John Obi Mikel is set to call time on his international career with the Super Eagles after making 89 appearances.

The German revealed that he is searching for a top midfielder to replace the long-serving Nigeria international and the ideal candidate has to be playing for a top Champions League club.

Though Rohr has praised Ndidi and Iwobi for their performance in Egypt, the German noted that Leicester City are not among the top six clubs in the Premier League while the winger is not a guaranteed starter for Arsenal.

''We have to thank this great player for his career and all that he has done for Nigeria and even if he did not participate in the qualifiers we invited him to participate in this AFCON and he played his role of captain even if he did not play often, and for the team it was good to have him,'' Rohr told reporters.

He continued : ''It is true that we have to search for some midfielders, we have Ajayi,who was in the 25-man list but not in the 23, playing in England. He could play in defensive midfield.

''We have other young players but it depends on what they are doing in their clubs. We don't have players in Champions League clubs for example, we have good players but playing in second division in Germany and England.

''We only have two playing in England regularly but Alex Iwobi does not start all the time at Arsenal and Ndidi is at Leicester but it is not a very big club, so I think we have to work hard to find these players who can replace Obi Mikel.''

Obi Mikel started two group matches against Burundi and Madagascar and his Africa Cup of Nations ended after suffering a knee injury in the final group game.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel