Mikel Obi Pulls out of Super Eagles Friendlies in London

Nigeria’s preparation for the World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers has taken a hit as Super Eagles captain, John Mikel Obi, has opted out of the friendly matches lined up for the team in London later this month.

The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF last month announced friendly matches for the team against African top-ranked side Senegal and Afcon 2019 high-flyers Burkina-Faso in a bid to get the team in shape ahead of the crucial run of games later this year.

However, Mikel has reportedly requested to be excused from the games to enable him settle down in his new club, Tianjin Teda, as the League would just be few weeks old at the time of the fixtures.

According to Vanguard, the former Chelsea and Lyn Oslo midfielder has been granted permission by Eagles coach Gernot Rohr to sit out the games.

It is understood that Mikel is the only player among the three major Super Eagles stars playing in China who requested to be left out of the game, with the duo of Brown Ideye and Odion Ighalo still in frame for the games.

The grade ‘A’ friendlies will be played in London later this month in what will be the first outing for the team this year.

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