A storm of reactions by Nigerians has greeted advice by former Green Eagles Captain, Segun Odegbami, that the handlers of the senior national should perish the thought of recalling John Mikel Obi to the team if the Super Eagles must win AFCON 2019.
TGM understands that Mikel has not played for the Eagles since Nigeria’s last group stage game against Argentina at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
The Middlesbrough midfielder played no part in the team’s qualification for the continental football showpiece. Super Eagles missed the last two editions in 2015 and 2017.
Speaking on the possibility of Mikel returning to the team, Odegbami insisted that the midfielder has done his bits with Eagles and should be allowed to move on.
Odegbami fondly called the ‘Mathematical’ in his active football, said Mikel is no longer the player he was.
His words: “Recall Mikel? History is against such a decision. Mikel is not the player he once was. We have seen his best and it cannot be recreated or better. What did it fetch?”
Odegbami said the last time Nigeria recalled a captain to the senior national team turned out to be a disaster.
“The last time we brought back a captain it ended in a disaster that halted the country from going to its first World Cup in 1981.
“Why are we not taking lessons from history? Why do we keep doing the same things based on sentiments and expecting a different result?” he asked.
Moments after the news broke, Nigerians took to the micro-blogging site, Twitter to react to the advice.
https://twitter.com/1BoiCalledDeji/status/1116612870169452544
“Nigeria shall not win AFCON 2019 because of Mikel. We can diminish our chances or even lose it because of him. Let him be, and lets throw up a new talent. We won’t know how good a player is until we give them a chance at a high level,”
— iBD10 (@booday10) April 12, 2019
At Nwakali's age Mikel Obi was starting for arguably the best team in Europe then and playing at a very high level. Mikel at 31 still has more talent is his right leg than him. Lmao them suppose flog some of una wallahi
— Child of the Red Sand 📿 (@jeremy_liit) April 12, 2019
Dasall…
See ehn, I rate Mikel very highly, but we must be careful not to grant any player 'god' mentality. I learnt a long time ago that "nature abhors a vacuum", life quickly fills up vacated spaces. We must keep moving with the times… https://t.co/L07ojbb6vo— iBD10 (@booday10) April 12, 2019
…officially https://t.co/vqJel522GS
— iBD10 (@booday10) April 12, 2019
…officially https://t.co/vqJel522GS
— iBD10 (@booday10) April 12, 2019
You 'sense bad blood'?
Heheheheee! https://t.co/cUlbfEFiOA— iBD10 (@booday10) April 12, 2019
All day, every day of the year… https://t.co/DmLUPWbeX8
— iBD10 (@booday10) April 12, 2019
Wonderful example Yobo and JJ. They were past it at .Selecting Mikel will just be motivational and not on form basis https://t.co/BOrN4yliZ3
— anthony ade (@walesvilla) April 12, 2019
By the way, Mikel has not announced retiring…but has been unavailable while others worked…just saying. https://t.co/SNwIar6usX
— iBD10 (@booday10) April 12, 2019
