Chelsea midfielder, John Obi Mikel, has been cleared to feature in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Congo at the Stade Municipal in Pointe-Noire this Saturday.
The midfielder was initially reported to be a doubt after being excluded from Chelsea’s Uefa Champions League match at NK Maribor and Barclays Premier League game against QPR.
But a Nigeria spokesman, Ben Alaiya, has told supersport.com that the 27-year-old is ready to take part in the important Afcon qualifier against Congo’s Red Devils.
Mikel trained with the rest of the squad on Thursday morning and even “featured in an 11-a-side game.”
“The doubt about whether Mikel will be part of the trip to Pointe-Noire is now cleared up because he is fit. He took part in all of the training session this morning, and featured in an 11-a-side game as well to underscore that he is ready for the match. So I don’t know where the report that he’s doubtful is coming from. Certainly not from us here or Mikel himself,” the Super Eagles spokesman told supersport.com on Thursday after the team’s training in Abuja as they headed back to their Bolton White Hotel lodgings.
Mikel has taken part in all of Nigeria’s four matches so far in the 2015 Afcon qualification and the head coach of the African champions, Stephen Keshi, regards him as an important player in his team.
The former FC Lyn-Oslo man has made more than 60 appearances for Nigeria.
SUPERSPORT
