Nigeria’s Super Eagles captain Mikel John Obi has retired from international football after leading the country to third place at African Cup of Nations in Egypt.
The former Chelsea man took to social media to bid the fans of the Super Eagles an emotional farewell. “Egypt is a country where I’ve started and have finished my National career. In 2006 I played my first official championship for my Country. 2019 African Cup of Nations marks my last championship for National Team with Super Eagles,” he wrote.
“My national career started in 2003 under 17 World Cup and I’m grateful for the national team for placing me on the world arena and giving me an opportunity to show my skill and have an incredible National and International career.”
At the age of 32 it’s time for me to retire from the National team and let the youth take over, who’ve done an amazing job securing a bronze medal at AFCON 2019,” Mikel said via his Instagram account on Thursday.
Nigeria’s technical adviser Gernot Rohr seemed to have announced the retirement of captain John Obi Mikel from the national team prematurely in his presser last night. The 32-year-old midfielder was an unused substitute in Nigeria’s 1-0 win over Tunisia as they claimed the bronze medal at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations championship in Egypt.
Mikel only played twice at the 32nd edition of the championship owing to the injury he suffered at the group stage. Rohr, a renowned tactician, however, admitted that it was time to start searching for the ageing midfielder’s replacement in his quest to build a formidable team for the country.
Rohr said after the match that: “We have to salute Mikel’s great career, he didn’t play in the qualifiers but it was good for the team that he is here. “Now we have to look at others, but we don’t have many midfielders in top clubs. We have Semi Ajayi, Iwobi, Etebo, Ndidi. But we have to work hard to find a replacement,” the German said.
Mikel made his senior debut for Super Eagles team in 2006 – just one year after emerging the second best player after Lionel Messi at the 2005 FIFA World Cup in the Netherlands.
He made the Nigeria squad to AFCON championship in Egypt 13 years ago and scored his first goal at the continental championship against Zimbabwe in their final group D game. In 2013, Mikel was part of the Super Eagles team that won the continental title under late coach Stephen Keshi.
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