Chelsea midfielder and Nigeria captain John Obi Mikel and his assistant, Ahmed Musa, will not be available for the international friendly matches against Mali and Luxembourg on May 27 and June 1 as they have been released to attend the Joseph Yobo Testimonial.
Yobo, former captain of the Super Eagles, would hold his testimonial game at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo on May 27, same day the Eagles take on Mali in Rouen, France. The game was earlier scheduled to take place at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt.
The Nigeria Football Federation had come under criticism for choosing the same date for the friendly when it had already been announced that Yobo, who made 100 appearances for the Eagles, had chosen the date for his testimonial.
Striker Emmanuel Emenike lashed out at the NFF’s insensitivy at not respecting Yobo enough and setting a bad precedent for younger players who want to serve their country.
Now the NFF has said the team would be without the captain and his deputy when they play the two important warm up games ahead of the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
“The NFF leadership has decided that Mikel and Musa should be excused from the two friendly matches in Europe so that they can honour Joseph Yobo, who is having his testimonial game on the same Friday, 27th May that we are playing Mali in Rouen, France. The two players have been communicated accordingly,” said NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi.
This brings to three the number of invited players that would miss the game after striker Aaron Samuel pulled out due to injury.
Midfielder Babatunde Michael has been called up from Moroccan side Raja Casablanca.
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