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+--- Thread: Dimeji Lawal: Playing for Nigeria cost Mikel his Chelsea place (/showthread.php?tid=614)
Dimeji Lawal: Playing for Nigeria cost Mikel his Chelsea place - Mhiz Rebecca - 10-17-2016
Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel lead the Nigerian Super
Eagles to win Bronze medal at the Rio 2016 Olympic.
A former Nigerian winger Dimeji Lawal, who is now a
pundit in Nigeria says playing for Nigeria have costed the
midfielder his place in Antonio Conte's team. Lawal says
he is amazed by some of criticism the 29-year-old face
back in Nigeria. Mikel is yet feature in any Premier League
game Chelsea this season.
This has lead some fans criticizing him back at home -
Lawal says they sympathize with the Super Eagles captain
instead of criticizing him.
He claims Mikel is playing the price for abandoning the
Blues's preseason tour for the Olympic.
According to the FIFA-licensed players’ agent, Conte is not
happy that the South Africa 2013 Africa Cup of Nations
winner opted to represent Nigeria at Rio 2016.
The Olympics is not on the FIFA international calendar so
clubs are not required to release players for the
tournament – and many big European clubs, including
Chelsea, did everything to to prevent their star players
going to the Games. Mikel had admitted opting to miss the
preseason was a tough choice, especially as former Italy
coach Conte was new to the London side.
“It is difficult to leave Chelsea at this time,” Mikel told the
Evening Standard .
“But I explained to the club why I wanted to go and I thank
them for their understanding and allowing me to be a part
of this.” continue here http://bluegistsdaily.blogspot.com/2016/10/dimeji-lawal-playing-for-nigeria-cost.html