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THE NEW MIKEL 

Mikel Obi
After the game against Malawi last Saturday, Nigeria coach, Stephen Keshi heaped praises on Super Eagles and Chelsea midfielder, Mikel Obi. Keshi said that the midfielder had been at his best under him.


Mikel made distinct impression on the field against a boastful Malawi team and was deservedly voted the Most Valuable Player in the game. For the immediate reward, he got the TomTom $5,000 set aside for the MVP.

But he was not just establishing himself as a midfielder to be relied on with the World Cup qualifying match in Calabar. He was in full control of Nigeria’s movements during the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa in February. 

For his work rate, he and his teammates got rewarded with the African cup after a long wait since 1994. But perhaps the most enterprising outing so far in recent times for the Chelsea star remains the FIFA Confederations Cup which held in Brazil. It was a competition that brought to fore the attacking prowess of the young Nigerian.

Nigerians first knew Mikel as an attacking midfielder with the national U-17 and U-20 teams but he soon became a midfielder who hardly had any business with the attack formation when he joined Jose Mourinho at Chelsea. 

But under Keshi, Mikel has played a more attacking position from the midfield than the defensive role he plays for Chelsea and he fully underlined it with his attacking posture during the FIFA event in Brazil. And remarkably, he scored the country’s goal in the 2-1 loss to Uruguay.

The positive review Mikel is receiving now has come after so much waiting. His lack of presence with the national team had made him quite unpopular with Nigerians. 

He was derided, dubbed unpatriotic and called names in the years past. Even when Keshi first took charge of the Eagles in November 2011, the midfielder, continued with the lack of commitment for the national team. 

Mikel stayed away from the two friendlies against Botswana 
and Zambia – the games with which Keshi started. He was out due to injury but many Nigerians accepted the excuse with doubts. It was not until several months later that he finally played for the Super Eagles and the relationship with the team managers and Nigerians in general has moved from lukewarm to something hotter.

His new disposition has made some fans of the Eagles to call for his elevation to position of the team captain with the continued absence of Joseph Yobo. But what could have created the new Mikel? Is it maturity or the dream for the captain’s band?

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