Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel has been named as the new Super Eagles skipper ahead of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Pharaohs of Egypt.
The 28-year-old midfielder Mikel, who made his debut with Nigeria in 2006, helping the Super Eagles to clinch their third Africa Cup of Nations title in 2013, has received the team’s armband from former captain Ahmed Musa during a press conference held in Kaduna on Thursday.
Nigeria and CSKA Moscow forward Ahmed Musa, 23, has expressed his pleasure with giving the team’s armband captaincy to Mikel who is the most capped player in the squad.
The newly named captain Mikel promised to do his best with the Super Eagles ahead of Friday’s clash against Egypt.
“I want to thank Musa and the team. It will be a new Super Eagles with a new approach,” Mikel said after the announcement.
Early this March, Nigerian coach Samson Siasia hinted at the important role of Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel when the team faces Egypt in the qualifiers.
“Egypt will be coming with their best players and I strongly feel Mikel and Moses’ wealth of experience will come in handy if we are to pick three points against Egypt in Kaduna,” Siasia told Nigerian newspaper Vanguard.
The Super Eagles will face Egypt, who is leading Group G with six points, two ahead of second-placed Nigeria, on 25 March in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers before playing the follow-up match four days later in Borg El-Arab Stadium in Alexandria.
