AFCON 2013 SHOCKER: Moses, Mikel stay till January 12

Rafa Benitez wants to keep John Obi Mikel and Victor Moses for their cup ties against Southampton and Swansea before releasing them for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Mikel and Moses, integral players since Benitez took control at Stamford Bridge, are in the Nigeria squad which was due to report for a pre-tournament training camp in Portugal Thursday.

The Chelsea pair have been granted permission to stay in London until after the New Year but Benitez is negotiating to keep them for as long as possible as his team become embroiled in a cluttered fixture list.

The Blues launch their defence of the FA Cup at Southampton on January 5, four days before the first leg of the Capital One Cup semi-final at home to Swansea.
Interim manager Benitez accepts he is unlikely to have them around by the time they play Stoke in the Barclays Premier League on January 12.

“The tournament starts on the 19th, so they will go one or two weeks before,” he said.
“Maybe we can manage to keep them a little bit longer. We will talk with them. They know sometimes the players do not need to go early. But at least one week before the 19th, they have to be there.”

Nigeria’s first game of the tournament in South Africa is on Janaury 21st against Burkina Faso. The final is on February 10, four days before Chelsea are due to play in Prague in the Europa League.

The Nation