Birthday Boy Mikel Wants To Win Gold in Rio

Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi, who clocked 29 today, declared his intention to claim Gold medal at the Rio Olympics in August.


Mikel is Nigeria’s most decorated football star having won major trophies with Chelsea since 2006 – UEFA Champions League, Europa League, 2 English Premier Leagues, 4 FA Cups and 2 League Cups.

The Super Eagles skipper also won the AFCON with Nigeria three years ago.

Nigeria Olympic team coach Samson Siasia has reasoned Mikel is fired up to make up for missing out on the Beijing Olympics eight years ago.

Siasia did not pick him because he did not feature in the qualifiers for the Games in China.

"I guess that because Mikel missed out the last time, he wants to make up for it,” Siasia said.

“Not only that, the last couple of games he has played for the Super Eagles, he has been playing very well, and if he wants to be part of the team, of course, he is welcome.”

Nwankwo Kanu is another Nigeria star who has won laurels in Europe with Ajax Amsterdam, Arsenal and Portsmouth.

He has also established his legacy as a proud winner of Olympic Gold, when he led Nigeria to an historic triumph in Atlanta 20 years ago.

Mikel may not be the most gifted midfielder, but he is a quintessential professional, whose tactical discipline has earned him a long service stay at Stamford Bridge.

Experts say Mikel, who has also represented Nigeria at U17 and U20 levels, will bring maturity to a talented team who qualified for the Rio Olympics as Africa’s best team in Senegal in December.

In Rio, the midfielder will most likely be assisted by fellow Eagles stars Odion Ighalo and Ahmed Musa as the other over-age players as Nigeria aim to repeat the milestone of 1996 right in the home of modern-day football.