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John Mikel Obi has hailed the Super Eagles players for handling the matches well despite the managerial uncertainties that rocked the team ahead of the AFCON 2025Q
Nigerian football legend John Mikel Obi has offered his analysis of the Super Eagles' recent performances in the AFCON 2025 qualifiers against Benin Republic and Rwanda.
The former Chelsea midfielder, known for his insightful views on the game, was full of praise for the team's efforts in securing four points from a possible six in these crucial matches.
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19:08 - 09.09.2024
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Mikel began by acknowledging the team's recent success and their ambitions:
"Listen, I think there is no denying we did so well in the last African Cup of Nations and we want to qualify again."
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His statement shows the high expectations placed on the Super Eagles following their strong showing in the previous tournament held in Cote d’Ivoire earlier this year.
Focusing on the home game against Benin Republic, Mikel was particularly impressed with the team's performance.
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"I thought the team played really well in the first game, won it comfortably," he stated. He highlighted the players' positive attributes, noting their "great attitude, motivation and finding a way to beat a very stubborn Benin team."
The former Super Eagles captain emphasised the importance of securing home victories, especially against teams perceived as underdogs.
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"That's what we have to do when you play at home - you're expected to beat the likes of Benin, no disrespect to them, but we have the better players, better team," Mikel explained.
This comment reflects the high standards expected of the Nigerian national team by the fans and followers.
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However, Mikel was quick to commend the players for their professionalism and work ethic, despite the challenging circumstances surrounding the team heading into the matches.
"I would like to commend the players for putting in such a professional display, hard work," he said. This praise is particularly significant given the current managerial situation of the Super Eagles.
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Mikel also shed light on the difficulties faced by the players due to the lack of a permanent head coach.
"There is so much going on that when you come in to the national team, every time you come in there is a new manager - we don't have a manager, we don't have a coach. It is difficult to come in knowing that you don't have coach, how do you deal with that?"
Mikel’s comment highlights the ongoing challenges in the Super Eagles setup, with the team currently under the guidance of interim coach Augustine Eguavoen.
Mikel's comments suggest that despite these obstacles, the players have shown remarkable resilience and professionalism to make the most of the matches against two tricky opponents.
His positive assessment of the team's performance, coupled with his acknowledgement of the challenges they face, provides an intriguing insider view of the Super Eagles' current situation as they continue their journey towards AFCON 2025 qualification.
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