How Mikel Almost Thwarted Iwobi’s AFCON 2019 Dream

Former Super Eagles midfielder and captain, Mikel Obi has been accused of trying to halt Alex Iwobi’s participation at the last 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

According to a tweet by popular journalist, Osasu Obayiuwana on Wednesday, he wrote that the former Chelsea star told Super Eagles technical adviser, Gernot Rohr that Iwobi was cramping his playing space and style in the team’s opening fixture against Burundi in AFCON.

However, Rohr turned down his idea and opted to play Iwobi from the central midfield.

“After (Mikel’s) top-grade performance with (Middlesbrough) in the championship, it was thought that he would exhibit the same form during the (AFCON 2019),” Obayiuwana narrated in a thread on he wrote on Wednesday.

“But despite engaging a personal trainer after the season, Mikel’s physical conditioning dropped.

“This was quite evident in Asaba, during the one-week I spent with the (Super Eagles) before they left for Egypt.

“But he was always going to be a part of the squad because Gernot sees him as integral to it, even when he’s not 100 per cent fit.

“The drop in (Mikel’s) physical conditioning – as seen from the group (AFCON 2019) games he played – forced Rohr and the staff to make the decision that he wouldn’t have more than a bit-part role during the tournament.”