Mandela Challenge: Mikel Obi Out, Victor Moses In for South Africa Friendly
Chelsea midfielder John Mikel Obi will not be available for the Super Eagles for Wednesday showdown with South Africa, SavidNews can authoritatively report.
The AFCON winner is still in London with his English club and yet to arrive South Africa with less than 24-hour to the match.
Top source in South Africa divulged to SavidNews.com that the Nigerian midfielder may not turn up for the high-profile Mandela Challenge Friendly in Durban, South Africa.
The source who pleaded anonymity reasoned that the Europa League winner could be missing due to a mild illness.
“Well, Mikel has told us we won’t be able to come for the game because of a little illness,” hints source.
The latest report means the Chelsea midfielder have joined the ranks of top Stephen Keshi’s key match starters in the duo of Kenneth Omeruo and Emmanuel Emenike.
With the Nigerian missing in the ranks for Eagles, possibility in Mikel’s availability for Chelsea ahead of the new season opener is still uncertain.
In a related development, the Super Eagles bubbled was Chelsea top star Victor Moses made a return to the team after missing out on the Confederation Cup in Brazil.
The former Wigan and Chelsea attacker’s arrived Durban on Tuesday afternoon.
Moses return will no doubt raise the hopes of Nigerians with high expectations for another victory in South Africa.
Nigeria returns to South Africa for the second time in 2013 after winning the African Cup of Nations on it first over four weeks visit but lost 2-1 in last Friendly in 2004 though not under victory lucked Stephen Keshi.
The cracker for the Super Eagles against Bafana Bafana is billed for Wednesday at 8:15pm local time (7:15 Nigerian time).
