Obi Mikel is nothing if not optimistic when it comes to Nigeria’s hopes of
qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia. Although Africa’s third round of
qualifying only reaches its halfway point at the end of this month and
beginning of September, the Super Eagles captain believes a place at the global
finals is within their grasp.
Group B, in which Nigeria are already four points clear of second-placed
Cameroon and five ahead of Zambia and Algeria, certainly makes for pleasant
reading. And though four tough games have still to be negotiated, Mikel is
upbeat about their prospects of topping the table and claiming the section’s
sole spot at Russia 2018.
“We are in a very good position in our group,” the 30-year-old Tianjin Teda
midfielder told FIFA.com. “We have two wins from two games, and in our last
game we beat Algeria at home. We have a very good young team and the players
play good football. If we can win our next match (at home to Cameroon on 31
August) it will edge us closer to qualification. I think we can go through.”
For the former Chelsea star, the pressure to make it to Russia is immense. And
as he explained, that is not simply due to the expectations of supporters in his
football-mad homeland. “My wife is Russian,” he said, “and many of our
relatives and friends are from Russia. They are all expecting Nigeria to
qualify for the next World Cup. I think they will kill me if I fail them,” he
added, laughing.
Crunch ties
For all his confidence, Mikel is under no illusions that the remainder of
Nigeria’s campaign will be easy. Looming large, after all, are back-to-back
meetings with reigning African champions Cameroon, who have drawn both their
matches thus far. The Super Eagles captain knows that these meetings on 31
August and 4 September will go a long way towards deciding the group’s outcome.
“As everyone knows, they are a very good team,” he said of Cameroon. “They are
strong and they play with confidence. We must get ourselves well prepared for
this game and try our best to get on top against them. It won’t be easy but
these are important matches. If we win both, we will be almost there.”
As might be expected given his role as captain, Mikel has figured prominently
in Nigeria’s qualifying campaign thus far. Notably, he scored one and set up
for another in their most recent triumph: a 3-1 win over Algeria in November.
However, injury has kept him sidelined over recent months, causing concern for
supporters of both club and country. Mikel, though, has vowed to do everything
within his power to be fit for this vital upcoming double-header.
“I had maintained good form until this injury,” he said. “So it was a shame.
But this is part of the game and now I am focusing on recovery and on coming
back stronger. I will do whatever I can to get fit to play for Teda and my
national team.
“This Nigeria team look up to me for advice. My team-mates miss me and they
need me. As the captain, I want to fulfil my role and help them with my
experience.”
A distinguished career
Mikel certainly has pedigree that few of his African peers can match. He broke
on to the scene at the 2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup, when he helped Nigeria march
all the way to the final, where they were edged out by a Lionel Messi-inspired
Argentina.
In the senior ranks, he helped Nigeria to the 2013 African Cup of Nations title
and, more recently, starred for the Super Eagles at Brazil 2014, where they
reached the second round for the first time since 1998.
At club level, he won just about everything on offer during a glittering
11-year spell with Chelsea, departing Stamford Bridge having claimed a UEFA
Champions League title, two English Premier League crowns and four FA Cups.
Such achievements, however, merely serve to whet his appetite for more.
“I am glad with what I have done,” he said. “But at the same time, I am not
satisfied. I want to achieve more, so I must push harder. The next World Cup in
Russia will be a fresh chance for us but, first, we have to make it there. Then
the next challenge will be to make sure we enjoy an even better tournament in
Russia than we did in Brazil.”
