The coach of the Nigeria senior national team Gernot Rohr is still waiting for the manager of Chelsea Antonio Conte, to respond to his plea of giving John Mikel Obi games with the U23 side of Chelsea.
To keep Mikel match fit for Nigeria’s crucial World Cup qualifiers tie against Algeria, Rohr made a passionate plea to the Chelsea coach to give his captain games with the U23s.
The Nigeria coach wants the Chelsea manager to ask the coach of the U23s who are in the Premier League 2 to play the Nigerian, after his revelation that the 29 year old is not in his first team plans.
Rohr made the plea to the Chelsea manager during a meeting with technical director Mike Emenalo last week during his visit to Stamford Bridge.
However, Conte is yet to get back to Rohr on his plea but when Chelsea U23 took on their Everton counterpart yesterday, Mikel was not given a run out. A sign which could mean Conte has turned down Rohr’s request.
Mikel will most certainly leave Chelsea either in January or next summer but with the U23s not in action again until after Nigeria’s next game against Algeria, he could once again lead the Super Eagles despite not playing a single game since the start of the season.
