‘I Have Been Lucky'

The 2018 FIFA World Cup presents Nigeria’s captain John Obi Mikel an opportunity to forge a legacy. He speaks to FORBES AFRICA ahead of the games.

- Colin Udoh

By the time the next World Cup rolls around, Nigeria’s captain John Obi Mikel will be 34. 

Considering coach Gernot Rohr’s deliberate moves to lower the average age of the Super Eagles (Nigeria’s national football team), it’s doubtful if the silky midfielder will still be suiting up in green-white-green by then.

It would appear that Russia 2018 will mark one final top-level hurrah in Mikel’s illustrious career, one that has seen him win everything in European club football and represent his country at all levels and in every major competition.

Like many former Super Eagles’ captains before him ahead of a major championship, Mikel, who now plays in the Chinese Super League with Tianjin Teda, is coy about his post World Cup plans.

“I don’t know what I will do after the World Cup,” he tells FORBES AFRICA.

“I think we have to focus on doing well first and making the country proud.”

Despite all he has achieved, there is still some debate as to whether the former teenage prodigy has fulfilled his potential, but Russia presents him with an opportunity to forge a legacy and grow his legend further.

It’s a sign of how highly he was thought of when he first burst on the scene that this is even a debate after he has racked up an impressive collection of trophies, including multiple Premier League titles with Chelsea, the FA Cup, UEFA Champions League, Europa League, and the Africa Cup of Nations titles. 

At Mikel’s first international game, an African Under-17 World Cup qualifier against South Africa in Kaduna, visiting coach Serame Letsoaka said of the emerging starlet:

“Your number 10 is a special player, he has the potential to be a great player.”