John Obi Mikel has revealed that
2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt may be his last for the Super Eagles.
The 14 –year veteran with the
Eagles who had been out of the team since the end of the 2018 Fifa World Cup
finals in Russia said he does not want to overstay his welcome.
Mikel won the Man-of-the-Match
award in Saturday’s pre-Afcon tune up 0-0 draw game against Zimbabwe.
Mikel revealed this in a video
interview posted on the official Twitter handle of the Nigeria Football
Federation on Thursday.
Exclusive Interview with Super Eagles captain, @Mikel_John_Obi. The Captain spoke on the team's chances at #TotalAFCON2019, his Dad's Kidnap, life after football, Young players & patriotism,his family and more https://t.co/i9T3QuGDES via @YouTube #SoarSuperEagles— The NFF 🇳🇬 (@thenff) June 13, 2019
“I think this will probably be my
last Afcon but I’m not 100 percent sure yet,” Mikel said.
“I have given so much to this
nation and at some point, you have to let go. I don’t want to overstay my
welcome.
“I do not know but I think it may
be. I like to go every year and see how I feel.
“Obviously the young players are
coming, I think before the next one comes around again I will be 34 or so.
“I will leave when I feel the
time is right. Let’s hope we can make it count.”
The Eagles captain who was part
of the Afcon winning team in 2013 in South Africa said he desires to win more
laurels with the team.
“I’m always hungry to win if I
didn’t want to win then I would not be here.
“I don’t just want to come in and
play the Nations Cup. I have played so many games and there is no point that I’m
just coming to play. I’ve come to win.
“And that’s the same mentality I
want to put in the younger ones — to win. I know for some of them, it is just
their first time and they just want to play but they need to have the mentality
of going to win.
“That is the mentality that I
have and hopefully, I can translate this from my performance on the pitch and
outside the pitch when talking to them.
“Hopefully, we can do great
things in Egypt.”
Mikel is the only Nigerian player
to have represented the country at all national team levels- U-17, U-20, senior
World Cups, Olympic Games and Confederations Cup.
Nigeria who have won the Afcon in
1980, 1994 and 2013 will take on Burundi in the 32nd edition of the tournament
on June 22 at the Alexandria stadium, Egypt.
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