He
remains one of the pillars of the Super Eagles despite his below
average performance in Chelsea. Mikel is one of the star players who are
being celebrated in Nigeria can boast of at the moment given his wealth
of experience. With a few number of appearances for the English Premier
League side at the just-ended season, many soccer-loving Nigerians know
Mikel is a World Cup material for now.
After
his debut for the Super Eagles in August 2005. Mikel who was adjudged
the second best behind Lionel Messi at the 2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup in
Holland, later became a regular featuring in all the Africa Cup of
Nations (AFCON) finals Nigeria participated in since 2006.
The
defensive midfielder who missed the 2010 World Cup due to an injury was
instrumental in the victory of Nigeria at the 2013 AFCON in South
Africa.
The
former Lyn Oslo of Norway player had splendid outing at the 2013 FIFA
Confederations Cup also in South Africa which he capped with a
spectacular goal in the 1-2 loss to Sweden in a group game. He also
played a key role in Nigeria’s qualification for the 2014 World Cup.
His
presence in the team to Brazil 2014 is a source of motivation to the
younger players in the squad. Mikel like his Chelsea teammate, Victor
Moses has turned to the national team to command global focus which he
failed to get through playing for the London side.
His
zeal while playing for Nigeria has in recent times become a delight to
note, which the coach Stephen Keshi too would not but admire.
Mikel
is known for his ‘safety first’ style of play in Chelsea which makes
scoring a bit difficult for him while he plays a free role in the Super
Eagles that helps him to play attacking football with goals to show on a
number of occasions.
Barring
injury, Mikel is one player who is sure of making the team to Brazil
2014 of course with a big hope for a five-star performance that would
earn him a starting line up shirt in Chelsea or a better deal that will
take him out of the Stamford Bridge next season.
Ogenyi Onazi
He
is also a sure bet for the World Cup except for injury. A product of
the Golden Eaglets like John Obi Mikel.Onazi has been regular in the
Super Eagles since since his debut in 2012.
A
member of the Golden Eaglets to the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2009, Onazi
after his elementary football with My People Academy of Lagos went on to
play for El-Kanemi Warriors before he secured a deal with Lazio of
Italy since 2011. He played a key role in the victory of nigeria at the
2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in South Africa while he missed the
2013 FIFA Confederations Cup due to an injury.
He
was instrumental in Nigeria’s qualification for the World Cup while he
remains one of the players coach Stephen Keshi banks on to prosecute the
2014 mundial.
Onazi
though did not feature in last Wednesday’s friendly against the Tartan
Army of Scotland in London, which ended in a 2-2 draw but pundits rate
the Lazio star as one of the players Nigeria will parade at Brazil 2014.
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