Chelsea midfielder, John Obi Mikel, has been announced the new captain of the Nigeria’s senior national football squad on Thursday.
Mikel, having made his début in 2006, is the longest-serving member of the current squad and is expected to lead the team against Egypt in the crucial 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on March 25.
.@NGSuperEagles Pre-Match Press briefing. Ahmed Musa just announced John Obi Mikel Is the new captain pic.twitter.com/BXuNfEI5O0
— The NFF (@thenff) March 24, 2016
According to SuperSports, the announcement was made at a press conference held in Kaduna on Friday as Ahmed Musa who was made captain by Sunday Oliseh after Vincent Enyeama’s retirement, relinquished the armband to the Chelsea midfielder.
Musa revealed that it is an anomaly for him to be captain of the team when Mikel, who is the most senior member of the squad, is still with the team.
John Mikel, who is also a Chelsea midfielder promised he will be a good leader to the team and thanked his teammates for the opportunity.
“I want to thank Musa and the team. It will be a new Super Eagles with a new approach,” he said after the announcement.
Nigeria will, on Friday, meet the Pharaohs of Egypt in a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna.
Egypt leads the group with six points, two ahead of Nigeria. Tanzania defeated Chad 1-0 in N’Djamena on Wednesday to go level with Nigeria on points but the Super Eagles lead on goals difference.
