The Chelsea midfielder played out 90 minutes of the scoreless draw as he had 94 passes to his credit
Browsing: John Mikel Obi
Stephen Keshi’s Super Eagles arrive in Brazil as African champions after triumphing in last year’s African Cup of Nations
Home-based goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi, dimunitive midfielder Joel Obi, South Africa 2013 hero Sunday Mba, former U-23 star Nosa Igiebor and 2014 CHAN most valuable player Ejike Uzoenyi also miss out on the trip to South America
The AFCON 2013 winner was not favoured by the club manager, Jose Mourinho, for the central midfield position as he fell in pecking order behind Ramires, Nemanja Matic and Willian
The San Siro outfit was rumoured to be preparing an audacious offer for the midfield rock this summer as Milan coach Clarence Seedorf is desperate to overhaul his ailing squad at the end of the season in a bid to avoid another disastrous campaign next term and he has been keeping a close watch on developments in west London
Competent sources hinted that the combative midfielder is prepared to communicate his willingness to join Inter on loan to the Chelsea leadership
Wednesday’s friendly is expected to be played at the Atlanta Georgia Dome, with both countries parading their potential World Cup squads for the encounter
It was also gathered that the Blues manager, Jose Mourinho, is expected to allow Mikel to leave the club, which could pave the way for Imbula’s arrival.
The AFCON 2013 winner has each of those winner’s medals at home but is eager to add to them in 2014, with the trip to Manchester City standing between Chelsea and a quarter-final place
Mikel, who stormed out of the awards venue in anger, was quoted by sources close to him that the organisers had assured him that he will emerge as the winner
Bishaw, who spoke first, also expressed his love for the Abuja National Stadium and wished it was in his native Ethiopia.
He said smiling: “Nigeria was obviously the best football nation in Africa last year and I won’t be surprised if a player from the country emerges the player of the year. They deserve to get the award. I also wish this beautiful stadium is somewhere in Addis Ababa
Nigeria’s John Obi Mikel, who is of Chelsea FC of England, is joined by the Ivorian pair of Yaya Toure and Didier Drogba
The Lille of France goalie was named in the Africa Cup of Nations Team of the Tournament after a series of influential displays, which formed the backbone of Nigeria’s rise to the title
Jose Mourinho’s side took advantage of Arsenal’s heavy 6-3 defeat at Manchester City earlier in the day to move to within two points of the leaders
Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State also carted home the award for the Football Friendly Governor of the Year
According to Alaiya, flight hitches have delayed some of the invited players who are already in Nigeria from arriving in the Calabar camp of the Super Eagles
Just as the new EPL entrants is confident of having Osaze in their fold, the Jose Mourinho’s side are expected to parade yet another Nigerian in John Obi Mikel, who had just returned to London after assisting the Super Eagles beat Walya Antelopes of Ethiopia counterparts by 2-1 in Addis Ababa to inch closer to Brazil 2014 finals
Chief Coach Stephen Keshi and his coaching crew are also expected to arrive Abuja on Monday to prepare the ground for the players, who will be jetting in as from tonight to start camping for the Ethiopia’s match
The 26-year-old star, who sat out midweek’s 4-0 victory over Steaua Buacharest in a UEFA Champions League clash, was for the second time not listed in Jose Mourinho’s 18-man squad against the Premier League strugglers
It took a quick counter-attack after 19 minutes for Chelsea to break the deadlock, with Schürrle finding space behind Daniel Georgievski and playing a simple pass for substitute, Samuel Eto’o, thrown in instead of injured Fernando Torres, in the area