It appears that Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel will not be participating in the friendly match between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and Mexico in Houston. While he was initially on the list of players called up by coach Stephen Keshi, Mikel requested and received permission to rest. This decision has led to speculation about a potential desire to take a back seat in the national team.
However, Mikel has refuted these claims, stating on Sky Sports, “I have always loved playing for my country.” He clarified that he will be available for the next two matches in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers against Kenya and Namibia, as well as the Confederations Cup.
Mikel’s absence from the friendly could be attributed to a combination of a rest request and a recent injury that kept him away from the pitch at the end of the season with Chelsea.
