Former Nigerian football administrator, Segun Odegbami has urged the Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr, not to include John Obi Mikel in Nigeria’s 2019 African Cup of Nations, AFCON, squad.
Since the 2018 world cup in Russia, Mikel has not featured for the Super Eagles. According to Odegbami, the Middlesbrough star has done his part for the team and should be allowed to rest.
“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?
“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?
“If old players do not retire new players cannot emerge. Some of the best players in our history came into being by been thrown into the deep end of a big competition and discovering their best-hidden ability. I am a good example. I took over from Baba Otu Mohammed after he had just been named Africa’s best right-winger but was disappointing in a few games. One match did the transformation.
“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 let’s throw up new talent. We won’t know how good a player is until we give them a chance at a high level,” Odegbami said in an interview.
