Nigeria skipper John Mikel Obi is one of only two players at
the men’s football tournament of this year’s Olympics with as many as 75 senior
caps. The other is South African goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune. Obi starred for
the Nigeria U17 squad at the FIFA U17 World Cup in Finland in 2003, where the
team coached by Augustine Eguavoen failed to reach the knock out rounds.
In 2005, he was in the U20 squad coached by Samson Siasia
and which won the Africa U-20 Championship in Benin Republic, before reaching
the final of the FIFA U20 World Cup in The Netherlands few months later. The
Flying Eagles were pipped 2-1 in that final by an Argentine team that included
Lionel Messi.
The 29-year-old midfield enforcer won his first senior cap
for Nigeria in a friendly against Libya in Tripoli on 17th August
2005, and would then score a brilliant goal against Zimbabwe at the Africa Cup
of Nations in Egypt the following year as Nigeria scooped bronze.
Obi also scored at the Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana in
2008, though the Super Eagles were eliminated in the quarter –finals. The same
year, he opted out of Nigeria’s squad to the men’s football tournament of the
Olympics due to club commitments.
Two years later, Obi also missed the FIFA World Cup in South
Africa as a result of injury, despite playing a huge role for the Eagles in
qualifying.
The Chelsea FC star was key for Nigeria as the Super Eagles
won the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa, and also starred at the FIFA
Confederations Cup in Brazil (where he scored against Uruguay). Mikel was also
impressive for Nigeria in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying series, and played
in all four matches for the Super Eagles in Brazil.
Nigeria’s Ministry of Youth and Sports has already named
John Mikel Obi as Captain of Team Nigeria to the Games. He is also the captain
of the football team, as well as captain of the Super Eagles.
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