Chelsea's Mikel Obi last played against Wigan on 26 September when he was withdrawn at half time with an ankle injury. REUTERS

I’m ready for Kenya game, says Mikel Obi

By Semiu Osho

Super Eagles midfielder, Mikel Obi, has declared himself fit to take part in next week’s crunch World Cup qualifier against the Harambee Stars of Kenya billed for the Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi, Kenya.

The Chelsea of England midfielder missed the Eagles last game against Mozambique in Abuja last month after injuring himself during his club’s September 26 Premier League encounter against Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium.

Concerns have been raised over his availability for the final World Cup qualifier against Kenya next weekend after being out for over a month with ankle problem, but the former Lyn Oslo man insists he is ready to play his part in helping Nigeria to qualify for next year’s Mundial in South Africa after being listed by Coach Shuaibu Amodu.

And to underline his readiness, the Eagles playmaker is already looking forward to featuring for Chelsea against Manchester United in their Premier League summit clash at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

Ready

“I will hopefully start playing again this weekend. I’m also looking forward to helping Nigeria. It is very important for us to win. We all have to work hard and simply pray that the result favours us,” said Mikel according to a report on The Sun.

Chelsea have not given the player the all-clear to face United but manager Ancelotti still has until Saturday to decide on whether to include Mikel in his squad to face United.

The Eagles star has always demonstrated huge enthusiasm any time the Blues are to play against United and it is not a surprise he is preparing himself for another crucial battle with Sir Alex Ferguson side this time around.

United rivalry

Mikel suffered a hamstring problem in a League game a week before the 2007 FA Cup final and he was to be ruled out of the clash against the Red Devils. But the Nigerian insisted he wanted to play after former Chelsea manager, Jose Mourinho declared it a big gamble to play him against United.

He was risked for the encounter and the midfielder played the entire 120minutes with a strap around his thigh.

Mikel was instrumental in the 116thminute Didier Drogba winner after threading a pass to Frank Lampard who in-turn exchanged a one-two combination to set up the Ivorian striker.

Mikel was to join Manchester United in 2005 after the Old Trafford outfit reached agreement with Norwegian side, Oslo Lyn but the midfielder eventually ended up at Chelsea in the 2006 summer after an amicable settlement between the two English clubs, following a year-long transfer wrangle.

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Reader Comments (10)

Posted by TATA on Nov 05 2009

na u sabe

Posted by mr Timothy Udoh on Nov 05 2009

It is from this Team list of invited players that i have now comfirmed that Amodu is not a coach. Why should he in the first instance invited Mikel who is injured? why should he invite Yakubu who is just recovering from injury? is that man sane at all? Dickson Etuhu and Sam Sodje two fine players are again left out of the squad, what is Amodu afraid of in these two players? Abi are some players offering him money?

Posted by Amodu Shameu on Nov 05 2009

Off course they are offering him money why else will he leave martins on the bench and start Yakubu? why will he play mikel who as far as i am concerned is not better than Azeez that wears the no.20 shirt in our under 17 team why will Amodu not beat Tunisia in Abuja? Amodu don Shame us i am not looking forward to seeing Nigeria in the world cup and i am only afraid that these guys will not just go and shame this country in Angola come January well lets adopt the normal Nigerian style to everything we do 'sidon look and no complaints' Baba God save us o

Posted by Babs Dodo on Nov 05 2009

Yakubu played for Everton last Saturday so he is fit.

Posted by Uncle Livy. on Nov 05 2009

To my own understanding, Amodu knows the players more than us, if he decide to include Mikel instead of Martins, all to his credit, all I know is that if Nigeria did not qualify for the world cup, that ends his career as a coach in Nigeria. I trust Nigerians, they know how to handle some certain issues when the time comes. All the best.

Posted by Goke Akinrogunde on Nov 05 2009

Amodu is not a coach o, he is only managing what he has upstairs

Posted by mayornant44 on Nov 05 2009

i dont know what the old man is till doing with the super eagle. i still believe that super eagle problems are from the NFA. if all NFA board members can be sack super eagles will move forward.

Posted by Nelson from South Africa on Nov 06 2009

We don't need Mikel in our squard. Infact Nigerians should forget about the world cup. I'm sick and tired of praying to God to punish somebody and at the same time favour me. What kind of evil prayer is that.

Posted by Ofia Afulu Agu on Nov 06 2009

Mikel was included because he is expected to be fit by the match date. Note that he has resumed training with Chelsea and the young man is comitted to that game. As for Yak, he is gradully bouncing back to his old self as evidenced by his performance in his last match and the accolades showered on him by his coach at Everton. I think this month is going to be a positively memorable one for Nigerian football with Heartland winning the Champions League, Super Eagles making it to S. A. $ the Under 17 team making it a treble.

Posted by Bugsy Mcgraw on Nov 07 2009

The report says: "He was risked for the encounter and the midfielder played the entire 120minutes with a strap around his thigh." This is the sacrifice Mikel makes to play for Chelsea but when they get to Eagles camp they begin to play Executive/Big man football!