Head coach of the Nigeria Super Eagles Gernot Rohr has revealed the reason why Nigeria’s captain John Mikel Obi was replced in Nigeria’s final AFCON 2017 qualifiers against Tanzania, which Nigeria won 1-0.
The German took off the Chelsea ace midway through the game, and few minutes before Nigeria scored despite the good effect the Chelsea man was having on the game in favour of Nigeria.
Rohr said, Mikel was pulled out for Wilfred Ndidi as he isn’t full fit, following exhaustion from the Olympics and he only just recently returned back to training.
” Mikel is not injured, he is fine, our taking him off wasn’t for technical or tactical reasons, we needed to give him a break” He told Owngoalnigeria.com
” It was agreed before the game, that he will play for an hour, he cut short his break to play in this tie, so we have to protect him as well, he only had two sessions before today’s game.
” He wasn’t tired and he didn’t asked to be substituted but we have to respect the fact that he isn’t fully fit and give him a breather”.
