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Nigeria
national team coach Stephen Keshi says he still believes that John Obi
Mikel is a vital cog in the Super Eagles side, despite the midfielder’s
lack of game time at his club, Chelsea. Mikel has not been overly
influential during Nigeria’s first two 2015 African Cup of Nations
(AFCON) qualifying
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,
which have seen the Super Eagles picking up just a single point from
their opening two matches against Congo (2-3) and South Africa (0-0).
Against Bafana Bafana, Mikel was outplayed by Man of the Match Andile
Jali, the 24-year-old Belgium-based midfielder who South Africa will
build their future around. It was Jali’s speed, tenacity and skill on
the ball that won him most of the one on one battles against the Super
Eagles midfielders. Mikel appears to having fallen down the pecking
order at Stamford Bridge, having only had 23 minutes of action so far
this season for the big-spending London club, but Keshi remains adamant
that the 27-year-old is an important part of the national team. “Just
because he is not playing in his team (Chelsea), that does not mean I
cannot use him in my team, that’s the coaches’ choice,” Keshi said after
Wednesday night’s 0-0 draw with Bafana Bafana in Cape Town. “But in my
team, if I think that he is good shape, with the wealth of experience he
has, all his years in the Champions League, I think he’s very important
for us in the team, and we just have to make the best of the
situation.”
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