Sports
10 Highlights From Mikel’s Career As He Retires
Published
3 years agoon
By
Editor
John Obi Mikel has gone on to become one of the greatest Nigerian footballers to wear the green and white for the Super Eagles in modern history.
Mikel has announced his retirement from football at the age of 35, having played for Nigeria at every level from the U-17 to the Super Eagles. He represented Nigeria in every major tournament there is in football and is one of the few Nigerians to have ever won an African Cup of Nations title.
After a stellar career across 20 years where he won every major trophy available at club level and won the AFCON in 2013 with his country, Mikel retired from active football on Tuesday.
At ten of the greatest moments of the former Nigerian skipper’s career with five while representing Nigeria and five while donning the blue of London club Chelsea.
READ ALSO: Mikel Obi Reveals Best Nigerian Coach He Worked Under
SUPER EAGLES
1. Winning the 2013 AFCON
The most important game of Mikel’s career in the Super Eagles and perhaps even the most important game of his career as he and the Eagles were able to end Nigeria’s 19 year wait for the AFCON trophy.
Although Mikel was invinsible at times in the Eagles’ build-up to the final , he was pivotal in the final game against Burkina Faso that led to Nigeria winning their third and most recent in history.
The achievement came in his 7th year in the national team and on his 4th AFCON. Mikel played just one more edition of the tournament before quitting the national team in 2019.
2. 2016 Olympics bronze
Mikel had drawn the ire of Nigerian fans in 2008 when he missed out on the Olympics due to club engagement. It would take some time to forgive him and Nigerians never completely forgave him until his major success at the AFCON five years later.
In 2016, he defied the warnings of then Chelsea manager Antonio Conte to lead the Dream Team XI to the Olympics. Mikel underlined his legendary status at the tournament as he led the team to a bronze medal finish in Rio de Janeiro.
Nigeria became the first ever country to win all three medals at the Olympic Games with the 1996 squad winning the gold and 2008 squad winning the silver.
3. Nigeria vs Argentina – Netherlands 2005 WYC Final
It was 2005 at the FIFA World Youth Championships in the Netherlands when Mikel first truly announced himself on the European stage, arriving at his coming-of-age party already almost fully developed.
The game still fondly remembered after close to two decades was the one Nigerians stood up for Mikel. Mercurial, effervescent, efficient, the former Chelsea midfielder showed great offensive and orchestrating skill.
READ ALSO: EPL: Why Lukaku Is Struggling At Chelsea – Mikel Obi
Samson Siasia’s Nigeria Under-20 side finished second at that tournament, losing to an Argentina team led by a certain Lionel Messi in the final, and Mikel was so impressive that he was awarded the Silver Ball as the tournament’s second-best player behind Messi, of course and he might have even pipped Messi to the Golden Ball had things gone Nigeria’s way in the final
4. Nigeria vs Zimbabwe – First Super Eagles call up
Mikel was in the middle of a transfer tussle between Manchester United and Chelsea when he got a nod to represent the Super Eagles at the 2006 AFCON in Egypt
Austin Eguavoen invited Mikel to the Eagles team following the youngster’s brilliant display at the U-20 World Cup. Mikel was too good to be ignored and on his AFCON debut, he scored and assisted Christian Obodo’s goal against Zimbabwe.
That proved to be Mikel’s grand entrance into a national team career that was full of fond memories.
5. Playing at the 2014 and 2018 World Cup
After he was ruled out of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa due to injury, Mikel made his World Cup debut during the 2014 tournament in Brazil, earning a man of the match award in the Super Eagles’ opening game against Iran and helping the team to reach the knockout stage for the first time since 1998.
In a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Algeria, Mikel scored a goal and assisted his Chelsea teammate Victor Moses in a 3–1 victory, the last time the Eagles defeated the Desert Foxes.
CHELSEA
1. Champions League Trophy
Mikel had the best night of his Chelsea career as he played the full 120 minutes in Munich at the 2012 UEFA Champions League final, when the Blues claimed the highest trophy in Europe against a relentless Bayern Munich side and became the first and only London team to win a Champions League.
2. First Goal
Mikel’s stunning volley against Macclesfield Town in the FA Cup on January 6, 2007 was his first goal for Chelsea, as the Blues routed them 6-1 to move to the 4th round of the competition. Mikel was named Chelsea Young Player of the Year for 2007 after an impressive start to his Blue career.
3. First Trophy
The first winner’s medal of Mikel’s Blue career came in the 2006-2007 League Cup against Arsenal where he was unfortunately sent off. It was also the day he got his first red card in a Blue shirt after clashing with Kolo Toure. The incident was followed by a huge quarrel where Touré and Emmanuel Adebayor were also sent off, Cesc Fàbregas and Frank Lampard were booked and Jose Mourinho and Arsène Wenger were involved in a scuffle on the pitch.
READ ALSO: EPL: Real Reason Mourinho Changed My Position At Chelsea – Mikel Obi
4. First Premier League Goal
The long awaited first EPL goal for Mikel came after 6 years playing for the London Club, in a 2 – 0 win against Fulham, on 21st September 2013.
5. First Premier League Trophy
The 2009/2010 season saw Mikel lay his hands on his first EPL title. A trophy even the legendary Steven Gerard of Liverpool never touched. He became the second Nigerian to win the coveted trophy behind Nigerian icon Nwankwo Kanu. The elite list of Nigerians to have won this title stands at three with fellow 2013 AFCON winner Victor Moses joining later on.
Although Mikel might not have inspired poetry in the way Kanu and Jay-Jay Okocha did, however, his solidity at doing his job and filling his role can see him rightly take his place in the pantheon of Nigerian greats.
PUNCH
Sports
WAFCON: Ihezuo Strikes Late As Nigeria Edge Botswana To Reach Quarter-finals
Published
1 day agoon
July 10, 2025By
Editor
Substitute Chinwendu Ihezuo came off the bench to score a dramatic 89th-minute winner as Nigeria sealed a 1-0 win over Botswana in their Group B clash at the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) on Thursday.
Nigeria looked set for a frustrating evening until Ihezuo met a low cross from Esther Okoronkwo and tapped home at the back post for her second goal of the tournament.
The result, secured at the Stade Larbi Zaouli in Casablanca, confirmed the Super Falcons’ place in the quarter-finals.
READ ALSO:Burna Boy Turns 34, Reveals Plans To Start A Family
Despite being overwhelming favourites, the nine-time champions struggled to break down a resilient Botswana side and their outstanding goalkeeper, Sedilame Boseja.
The Super Falcons were wasteful in front of goal for much of the contest, with Asisat Oshoala and Toni Payne both missing first-half chances. Botswana came close to a shock lead through Balothany Johannes and Laone Moloi, whose efforts tested Nigeria goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie.
Sports
Oliseh Urges Osimhen To Choose Premier League Over Galatasaray Return
Published
2 days agoon
July 9, 2025By
Editor
Former Super Eagles head coach, Sunday Oliseh, has issued a strong word of advice to Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen amid mounting speculation linking the Napoli forward with a surprise return to Turkish giants Galatasaray.
In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), Oliseh warned that the 26-year-old striker is at a pivotal stage in his career and must carefully consider his next move to avoid future regret. He wrote, “Victor Osimhen is at a very delicate crossroad. He needs to find his way to the Premier League in a hurry or he risks so much regret! Man. United and Arsenal need this player if only…..”
Oliseh’s comments come amid reports that Osimhen is preparing for a permanent switch to Galatasaray, where he previously starred during a loan spell, scoring 26 goals to lead the club to the Turkish Super Lig title. However, the Nigerian legend believes a move to England’s top flight would better suit Osimhen’s development and global standing.
READ ALSO: JUST IN: UAE Imposes Fresh Visa Conditions On Nigerians, Bans Transit Visa
Now 26, Osimhen’s age is reportedly becoming a factor in transfer negotiations, with some Premier League clubs cautious about making a high-value investment. Delaying a move to England any further could reduce his appeal in the competitive Premier League market, insiders suggest.
Despite being contracted to Napoli until 2026, Osimhen’s future remains uncertain. The striker was expected to return for pre-season training, but reports in Italy claim that new head coach Antonio Conte has no intention of including him in his plans and could relegate him to the youth team.
Sports
Liverpool Return To Training In Wake Of Jota death
Published
3 days agoon
July 8, 2025By
Editor
Liverpool’s stars returned to training on Tuesday for the first time since the tragic death of forward Diogo Jota.
The Premier League champions postponed the start of pre-season training after Jota, 28, and his brother Andre Silva died in a car crash in northern Spain last Thursday.
Manager Arne Slot and a number of the Liverpool squad, led by captain Virgil van Dijk, attended Jota’s funeral in his home town of Gondomar, near Porto, on Saturday.
Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson, Conor Bradley and Wataru Endo were among the players pictured arriving at the training ground.
READ ALSO: Liverpool, Football World Mourn Diogo Jota As Tributes Pour In
Salah said in his tribute to the Portuguese international that he was frightened to go back to Liverpool to face the reality of Jota’s passing.
“Teammates come and go but not like this. It’s going to be extremely difficult to accept that Diogo won’t be there when we go back,” Salah posted on Instagram.
A site of remembrance has been set up at the club’s iconic Anfield stadium where hundreds of bouquets of flowers, shirts, scarves and pictures have been left by fans and former players in recent days.
READ ALSO: BREAKING: Liverpool Star Diogo Jota Is Dead
Liverpool’s first pre-season friendly is scheduled for Sunday away at Championship side Preston.
But ticket sales for that match have been suspended pending a final decision on whether the match will go ahead.
Liverpool are then due to go on an Asian tour, playing AC Milan in Hong Kong and Japanese side Yokohama Marinos before the end of the month.
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