Mikel Obi Questions Nigeria AFCON Squad, Raises Concerns Over External Influence

Former Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel has stirred the conversation around Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) squad, questioning the selections made by head coach Eric Chelle.

Naija News reports that Eric Chelle named his 28-man squad for the tournament on Thursday, but the omission of several notable players has drawn scrutiny. Goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, Wolves forward Tolu Arokodare, Crystal Palace’s Christantus Uche, and Celtic’s Kelechi Iheanacho were all left out of the final list.

Speaking on his Obi One Podcast, Mikel expressed scepticism over the process behind Chelle’s choices, suggesting that external pressures may have influenced the selections.

“I don’t think the right players are being selected from what I hear,” Mikel said. “I think the manager doesn’t have the full authority to select whom he wants. I think there’s a lot of influence on his selection.”

The Super Eagles are set to face Egypt in a warm-up fixture before opening their Group C campaign against Tanzania. Uganda and Tunisia complete the group lineup.

Meanwhile, midfielder Paul Onyeka has reflected on his personal journey, highlighting the mental preparation he has adopted to stay ready for Nigeria.

Despite limited opportunities at Brentford, where he has yet to start a Premier League match under new manager Keith Andrews, Onyeka credits his time on loan at Augsburg in the Bundesliga for helping him build resilience.

“It’s good because if you’re stressed, you just try to be calm and relaxed as much as possible,” Onyeka said.

“I try to do that every day, but most times I do it before games, just to prepare myself. I do it in my room before I go to the stadium, and after the first half, I try to do a bit. I just focus on my breathing to make sure that I feel settled.”

Onyeka, 27, also reflected on his role in Nigeria’s World Cup qualifying campaign. He scored critical goals, including a 91st-minute strike against Benin that sent the Super Eagles into the play-offs, though Nigeria eventually fell to DR Congo.

“I’ve been looking to get goals into my profile,” he added. “In my time in Augsburg, it was something that I discussed a lot. I always want to go forward, and I want to score goals. It’s sad that we didn’t qualify for the next World Cup, with the talent that we have. It’s a motivation for us to go into Afcon and win it and bring it back home.”