Newly appointed Super Eagles coach, Sunday Oliseh has addressed a big question on the minds of many Nigerian football fans: Why was Mikel Obi‘s name excluded from the list of players invited for the forthcoming 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Tanzania?
During a chat with Vanguard, Oliseh set the record straight. This is what he said, as reported:
“Well this issue is an enigma and we have been trying to understand it but I am in the dark personally, and with my assistants we spent time about 11 days in and around Europe talking to players, watching games. We contacted each of the players, call them up, call the clubs and eventually met with the players.
I went to England on a Thursday and Chelsea was just coming back, we had fixed our visit to coincide with the end of their tour before they played Arsenal. I contacted Obi Mikel, called him on phone four times, the phone kept on ringing nobody picked it up, I sent him an SMS and got no response. But I called Victor Moses the phone rang three times and he picked it up and I spoke with him, told him to concentrate on his game.
After the game he came to my hotel and we met and I told him my plans for the national team. I left to Liverpool to meet the other player and I spent about six hours to go there and back but there was no response from Mikel until I returned here.
I think it was yesterday (Wednesday) that I saw a missed call, so at the moment I don’t know what the situation is. For me everybody is the same and will be treated the same.”
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Hmmmn. Mikel not picking your called Uncle Sunday? Is that the only reason? There has to be other things that affected now. Anyway i am here commenting, Mikel is still making much money than me sha.
is it really all about making money? na wa o. we de talk national team u de talk akara and boli
Great!Please build a team.
that your own side of the story; Mikel will give his own side too
Mikel you do well o! Make another player show im talent too since you dey do shakara to pick call
When players are paid late and have to demand for their money before they get paid. Promises of bonuses which was never fulfilled the last time. I don’t totally blame Mikel Obi I guess he is more focused on his club who keep to their agreement and pay him in due time.
Focused on club indeed. Abi focused on the bench he’s usually warming, lol.
🙂
Olsieh is like the hottest igbo man ever gosh look at him
he’s from Abavoh, Delta State. he’s not Igbo
No, he is what? If his last name is not Igbo, mbok, what is it?! Some people with their limited view on who “Igbos” truly are be on here writing this and that. He is Igbo! He speaks Igbo, his ancestors are Igbo and he is Igbo. Just because it is Delta does not mean they are not Ndiigbo, biko!
Ur mumu isn’t contagious right?
Girl,really?
You for send am text.
He actually did. It’s stated in the 2nd paragraph.
Stop callin’ .. Stop callin’ .. I don’t wanna talk anymore
Abeg leave Mikel joor,he fall my hand for last world cup.try another person
sunday oliseh, try to treats “Mikel Obi with a respects, he deserved it
..if its true,Mikel,a fall comes immediately after pride oh!
Please Oliseh your reaason of exclusion not cogent enough. Do you know if Mikel is sick or well disposed. Don’t prejudge him. Be a father, friend and brother to this boys. Drop your Ego yeah your the BOSS. Did you Return back the miss call?
@olanne, please shut up!!!!! He is not Igbo! So the the people that speak Yoruba in Portugal are yorubas instead of Portuguese abi? Is it by force for him to be Igbo??? He is from Abavoh, their culture differs from the igbos! Language is not the sole and only determinant factor of where one is from. All these Easteners always forcing Deltans to be igbos. We are not Abeg pack well.
Keep on deceiving urself ok. As far as the Real Niger Deltans (Urobhos, Itshekiris, Ijaws, Isokos, Kalabaris ets) are concerned all of una Kwales, Ugwashiukwi, Agbor eg. Uti “Nwachukwu”, and Asaba, and also the Ikweres of Rivers are all Igbos or Ibos or even Eboes…. whatever
And not forgetting that Sunday Oliseh middle name is Ogochukwu so is Stephen “Okechukwu” Keshi.
Folks out here should pay a little attention of their Heritage and stop leaving in Denial over what I still haven’t figured out