Chelsea and Super Eagles midfielder, John Mikel Obi has been named in Nigeria’s Olympic football squad announced on Monday for Rio Olympics .
The 29-year-old is one of Coach Samson Siasia’s experienced players in the 18-man squad for the tournament and did not fly with the rest of his Chelsea team-mates to Los Angeles for their pre-season tour to the USA.
The tournament runs from August 3rd until 20th and means that the Chelsea midfielder will likely miss the first two Premier League matches of the season against West Ham and Watford and could also possibly miss the League Cup second round on August 22.
Nigeria has been drawn in Group B of the Rio Games alongside Sweden, Colombia and Japan, at the group stage and will begin their campaign against Japan on August 4.
They are the first African country to win the gold medal. Nigeria also finished runners-up at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, under Coach Samson Siasia, who will again take charge in Brazil.
Mexico won the London 2012 Olympics men’s tournament.
Nigeria Olympic squad:
Goalkeepers: Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa FC, South Africa), Emmanuel Daniel (Enugu Rangers)
Defenders: Kingsley Madu (AS Trencin, Slovakia), William Troost-Ekong (Haugesund FC, Norway), Ndifreke Udo (Abia Warriors), Saturday Erimuya (Kayseri Erciyespor, Turkey), Abdullahi Shehu (CF Uniao, Portugal), Muenfuh Sincere (Rhapsody FC), Stanley Amuzie (Olhanense FC, Portugal)
Midfielders: John Mikel Obi (Chelsea, England), Okechukwu Azubuike (Yeni Malatyaspor, Turkey), Usman Muhammed (CF Uniao, Portugal), Oghenekaro Etebo (CD Feirense FC, Portugal), Sodiq Saliu (Seraing FC, Belgium)
Forwards: Aminu Umar (Osmalispor, Turkey), Imoh Ezekiel (Al Arabi, Qatar), Sadiq Umar (AS Roma, Italy), Junior Ajayi (CS Sfaxien, Tunisia)
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