Super Eagles’ skipper, John Obi Mikel is doubtful for Nigeria’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier as he is struggling to be fit, less than three weeks before Coach Gernot Rohr announces his roster for a training camp in France.
Nigeria are scheduled to host Bafana Bafana in the 2019 AFCON qualifier in Uyo in June 2017.
The latest update regarding the influential Super Eagles captain is that the injury he suffered is worse than first thought, and he will sit out a third straight game when Yanbian Fude visit the Olympic Stadium on Saturday.
”On the Mikel problem I have to to tell the truth, his injury situation is more complex, tomorrow’s game he can not meet the requirements,” manager Jaime Pacheco said at Friday’s press conference.
”Mikel is very important to us, that he cannot play is our loss, but I also have full confidence in the players.”
Mikel asked to be excused before Rohr announced the squad list for the international friendly against Senegal in March as he needed to settle into his new team.
Another Chinese-based Super Eagle, Changchun Yatai’s Odion Ighalo, has suffered an ankle injury, which could keep him on the sidelines for up to three weeks.
Packaged by Lanre Olabisi
