Eagles Victory Thrills Mikel, Hints At Chelsea Exit

By Andah John with agency report

Nigeria’s captain John Obi Mikel has expressed happiness over his side’s victory against Algeria in Saturday’s World Cup qualifier.

Victor Moses scored a brace, while Mikel registered Nigeria’s second in the 3-1 hammering of the North Africans in a Group B qualifying game in Uyo.

The win puts the Super Eagles four points clear at the top of the group after only two games, as Cameroon and Zambia played out a 1-1 draw in Limbe.

And Mikel knows how huge the win is for the Eagles. He admitted that the Desert Warriors played “a nice game” but the Eagles were more clinical in the final third.

Mikel hints at Chelsea exit

Mikel has endured a frustrating season at Premier League side Chelsea. The Nigeria international has not featured for new Blues boss Antonio Conte at all this term. And he has said he will be forced to look elsewhere for first-team football in January if his situation remains unchanged.

“I try to make myself fit, I work very hard and I feed well.

“I have been playing for Chelsea for 11 years. Well let’s see what happens by January next year,” Obi said.

Down but not out

Meanwhile, captain of the North Africans Carl Medjani expressed disappointment over their defeat to the Super eagles. He felt they should have been more clinical in front of goal as they lost some scoring chances.

But Medjani does not think they are out of the World Cup race. He believes they can still qualify if they up the ante in their subsequent games.

“We are very disappointed. We have to win the remaining games and Nigeria could lose,” Medjani.

The World Cup qualifying game had in attendance Nigeria’s Senate President Bukola Saraki, Senate Minority Leader, Chief Godswill Akpabio, and Akwa Ibom Deputy Governor, Mr Moses Ekpo.

Others included former Super Eagles midfielders Jay Jay Okocha and Friday Ekpo among others.