International Football
MIKEL OBI GOES FOR 80TH INTERNATIONAL CAP
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Super Eagles’ skipper, Mikel Obi is on the threshold of getting into the prestigious FIFA Century Club, an exclusive assembly of players who have made at least 100 international appearances.
With strong indications that Mikel will be featured in Friday’s game with Algeria, Sports Village Square can declare that he will be making his 80th appearance in proper grade A match for Nigeria.
Twenty more matches including the scheduled one with Argentina next week, other pre World Cup friendly matches and at least the three group games at Russia 2018, Mikel Obi may just clock 100 caps.
If fielded in Friday’s match with Algeria, Mikel will be, the fourth most capped Nigerian international after those of Vincent Enyeama (101 caps), Joseph Yobo (100) and the late Muda Lawal (86).
Incidentally, all those with over 80 international appearances have been captains of the Nigerian team.
Mikel made his international debut when he came in as a substitute for Chris Obodo in an August 17, 2005 friendly match with Libya in Tripoli. It was a trial match ahead of a 2006 World Cup qualifying match with Algeria, in Oran.
He also came in as a substitute for Wilson Oruma in Nigeria’s second group game with Zimbabwe in the Africa Cup of Nation duel in Port Said, Egypt on January 27, 2006.
His introduction was impactful as he almost immediately doubled Nigeria’s lead, scoring his first international goal. Apart from featuring in the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations quarter finals duel with Tunisia in Port Said, Mikel continued to make cameo appearances in the Super Eagles until disastrous 1-4 loss to Ghana in a friendly match on February 6, 2007 in London.
That was the last match for Austin Eguavoen as the team manager. He stepped aside for Germany’s Berti Vogts who watched from the side lines and signed his contract two days later.
In his 79 matches so far, he played as substitute or was substituted 18 times.
To his credit, Mikel has played all tiers of national team football for Nigeria and participated in all FIFA final competitions. Staring with 2003 Under 17 World Cup in Finland, the U-20 in the Netherlands in 2005, the Under 23 football tournament of the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro 2016, the FIFA Confederation Cup in Brazil 2013, the FIFA World Cup in Brazil 2014 as well as featuring for Chelsea in the FIFA Club World Cup in 2012.
Though a midfielder, he scored six goals for Nigeria in the 79 matches he has played so far.
ALL MATCHES MIKEL OBI PLAYED FOR SUPER EAGLES
- August 17, 2005 (F-Tripoli) LIBYA 0 – 1 NIGERIA. (sub)
- January 27, 2006 (AFCON-Port Said) ZIMBABWE 0 – 2 NIGERIA. (sub) 1 goal
- February 4, 2006 (AFCON-Port Said) TUNISIA 1 – 1 NIGERIA * 5-6 pens
- February 7, 2006 (AFCON-Alexandria) COTE D’IVOIRE 1 – 0 NIGERIA. (sub)
- September 2, 2006 (AFCONq-Abuja) NIGERIA 2 – 0 NIGER. (sub)
- February 6, 2007 (F-London) GHANA 4 – 1 NIGERIA.
- March 24, 2007 (AFCONq-Abeokuta) NIGERIA 1 – 0 UGANDA.
- September 8, 2007 (AFCONq- Warri) NIGERIA 2 – 0 LESOTHO.
- October 14, 2007 (F- Mexico City) MEXICO 2 – 2 NIGERIA.
- January 21, 2008 (AFCON- Sekondi) COTE D’IVOIRE 1 – 0 NIGERIA.
- January 25, 2008 (AFCON- Sekondi) MALI 0 – 0 NIGERIA.
- January 29, 2008 (AFCON- Sekondi) BENIN 0 – 2 NIGERIA. (1 goal)
- February 3, 2008 (AFCON- Accra) GHANA 2 – 1 NIGERIA. (sub)
- May 27, 2008 (F- Graz) AUSTRIA 1 – 1 NIGERIA.
- June 1, 2008 (WCq- Abuja) NIGERIA 2 – 0 SOUTH AFRICA.
- June 7, 2008 (WCq-Freetown) SIERRA LEONE 0 – 1 NIGERIA. (sub)
- June 21, 2008 (WCq- Abuja) NIGERIA 2 – 0 EQUATORIAL GUINEA. (sub)
- February 11, 2009 (F-London) JAMAICA 0 – 0 NIGERIA.
- March 29, 2009 (WCq-Maputo) MOZAMBIQUE 0 -0 NIGERIA.
- June 20, 2009 (WCq-Rades) TUNISIA 0 -0 NIGERIA
- September 6, 2009 (WCq-Abuja) NIGERIA 2 – 2 TUNISIA
- November 14, 2009 (WCq-Nairobi) KENYA 2 – 3 NIGERIA.
- January 6, 2010 (F- Durban) ZAMBIA 0 – 0 NIGERIA. (sub)
- January 12, 2010 (AFCON- Benguela) EGYPT 3 – 1 NIGERIA. (sub)
- January 16, 2010 (AFCON- Benguela) BENIN 0 – 1 NIGERIA.
- January 20, 2010 (AFCON- Lubango) MOZAMBIQUE 0 – 3 NIGERIA.
- January 25, 2010 (AFCON- Lubango) ZAMBIA 0 – 0 NIGERIA (aet) 4-5 pens
- January 28. 2010 (AFCON- Luanda) GHANA 1 – 0 NIGERIA.
- January 30, 2010 (AFCON- Benguela) ALGERIA 0 – 1 NIGERIA. (sub)
- September 5, 2010 (AFCONq – Calabar) NIGERIA 2- 0 MADAGASCAR (sub)
- March 29, 2011 (F- Abuja) NIGERIA 3- 0 KENYA
- June 1, 2011 ( F- Abuja) NIGERIA 4- 1 ARGENTINA
- June 5, 2011 ( AFCONq- Addis Ababa) ETHIOPIA 2-2 NIGERIA
- September 3, 2011 (AFCONq- Antananarivo) MADAGASCAR 0-2 NIGERIA
- September 6, 2011 ( F- Dhaka) ARGENTINA 3-1 NIGERIA (sub)
- October 8, 2011 ( AFCONq-Abuja) NIGERIA 2-2 GUINEA
- October 11, 2011 (F-London) NIGERIA 0-0 GHANA (sub)
- October 13, 2012 (AFCONq – Calabar) NIGERIA 6-1 LIBERIA (1 goal pen)
- January 9, 2013 (F – Faro) CAPE VERDE 0-0 NIGERIA
- January 21, 2013 (AFCON – Nelspruit) BURKINA FASO 1-1 NIGERIA
- January 25, 2013 (AFCON – Nelspruit) ZAMBIA 1-1 NIGERIA
- January 29, 2013 (AFCON – Rustenburg) ETHIOPIA 0-2 NIGERIA (sub)
- February 3, 2013 (AFCON – Rustenburg) COTE D’IVOIRE 1-2 NIGERIA
- February 6, 2013 (AFCON – Durban) MALI 1-4 NIGERIA
- February 10, 2013 (AFCON – J’burg) BURKINA FASO 0-1 NIGERIA
- March 23, 2013 (WCq- Calabar) NIGERIA 1-1 KENYA
- June 5, 2013 (WCq – Nairobi) KENYA 0-1 NIGERIA
- June 12, 2013 (WCq- Windhoek) NAMIBIA 1-1 NIGERIA
- June 17, 2013 (Confed – Belo Horizonte) TAHITI 1-6 NIGERIA
- June 20, 2013 (Confed – Salvador) URUGUAY 2-1 NIGERIA (1 goal)
- June 23, 2013 (Confed – Fortaleza) SPAIN 3-0 NIGERIA
- September 7, 2013 (WCq – Calabar) NIGERIA 2-0 MALAWI
- October 13, 2013 (WCq- Addis Ababa) ETHIOPIA 1-2 NIGERIA
- November 16, 2013 (WCq- Calabar) NIGERIA 2-0 ETHIOPIA
- November 18, 2013 (F- London) ITALY 2-2 NIGERIA
- March 6, 2014(F- Georgia) MEXICO 0-0 NIGERIA
- June 4, 2014 (F- Pennsylvania) GREECE 0-0 NIGERIA
- June 7, 2014 (F- Florida) USA 2-1 NIGERIA (sub)
- n June 16, 2014 (WC- Curitiba) IRAN 0-0 NIGERIA
- June 21. 2014 (WC- Cuiaba) BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA 0-1 NIGERIA
- June 25, 2014 (WC-Porto Alegre) ARGENTINA 3-2 NIGERIA
- June 30, 2014 (WC- Brasilia) FRANCE 2-0 NIGERIA
- September 6, 2014 (AFCONq- Calabar) NIGERIA 2-3 CONGO
- September 10, 2014 (AFCONq- Cape Town) SOUTH AFRICA 0-0 NIGERIA
- October 11, 2014 (AFCONq – Khartoum) SUDAN 1-0 NIGERIA
- October 15. 2014 (AFCONq – Abuja) NIGERIA 3-1 SUDAN
- November 15, 2014 (AFCONq- Pointe Noire) CONGO 0-2 NIGERIA
- November 19, 2014 (AFCONq- Uyo) NIGERIA 2-2 SOUTH AFRICA
- October 8, 2015 (F- Vise, Belgium) DR CONGO 2-0 NIGERIA. (sub)
- October 11, 2015 (F-Vise, Belgium) CAMEROON 0-3 NIGERIA. (sub)
- November 13, 2015 (WCq- Lobamba) SWAZILAND 0-0 NIGERIA. (sub)
- March 25, 2016 (AFCONq- Kaduna) NIGERIA 1-1 EGYPT.
- March 29, 2016 (AFCONq- Alexandria) EGYPT 1-0 NIGERIA.
- September 3, 2016 (AFCONq -Uyo) NIGERIA 1-0 TANZANIA. (sub)
- October 9, 2016 (WCq -Ndola) ZAMBIA 1-2 NIGERIA.
- November 12, 2016 (WCq -Uyo) NIGERIA 3-1 ALGERIA. (sub, 1 goal)
- September 1, 2017 (WCq -Uyo) NIGERIA 4-0 CAMEROON (sub, 1 goal)
- September 4, 2017 (WCq -Yaoundé) CAMEROON 1-1 NIGERIA
- October 7, 2017 (WCq -Uyo) NIGERIA 1-0 ZAMBIA
Representatives from four national players’ unions on Thursday launched a new global organisation in Madrid, which they say will strengthen footballers’ rights and improve dialogue with governing bodies.
Opening a new front in the battle over who speaks for players, the International Footballers’ Association (AIF) was unveiled, with David Aganzo, president of Spain’s Association of Footballers (AFE) and a former head of the global union FIFPRO, appointed to lead the organisation.
Players’ unions from Brazil, Mexico and Switzerland were also represented.
The initiative drew a swift rebuke from FIFPRO, which said in a statement that Aganzo was acting out of self-interest and aligning himself with organisations linked to football governing bodies, as well as groups expelled from FIFPRO over alleged mismanagement.
Aganzo rejected the criticism, saying he “will not seek confrontation with FIFPRO”.
The launch comes amid strained relations between players’ unions and football authorities, particularly over the expanding international match calendar.
Relations between FIFA and FIFPRO deteriorated in 2024 after the union lodged a complaint with the European Commission, arguing that the global governing body was abusing its dominant position by adding competitions without sufficient consultation.
Aganzo denied suggestions that the new initiative was backed by FIFA president Gianni Infantino, but said “direct dialogue with FIFA” was essential.
AFE’s Extraordinary General Assembly approved the initiative in February with 99.8% of votes cast in favour of spearheading the creation of the AIF.
The same assembly also backed AFE’s withdrawal from FIFPRO, citing what it described as a “complete lack of transparency, as well as its total lack of dialogue with international bodies.”
“We represent over 30,000 footballers, and we come here with a new model aimed at safeguarding players’ rights and facilitating direct communication with all international bodies,” Aganzo told reporters.
“We are in contact with 15 to 20 unions already who were very aware of this moment and waiting for this announcement to make their move and join our initiative.”
He declined to identify any unions beyond those present.
Asked about a report that a senior envoy to U.S. President Donald Trump had urged FIFA to replace Iran with Italy at the upcoming World Cup, Aganzo urged caution.
“These are more political issues; on April 30th, I’ll be speaking to Gianni (Infantino) at the FIFA Congress, and we will discuss those things,” Aganzo said.
“People who want to go to the World Cup have to earn their place on sporting merit.”
-Reuters
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A new trial over the death of Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona will begin on Tuesday, with seven members of his medical team charged with negligent homicide nearly a year after a previous case collapsed in a mistrial.
An enduring presence in Argentina – from towering murals to tattoos, opens new tab – Maradona died on November 25, 2020, at 60, after a heart attack while he was recuperating from brain surgery to remove a blood clot.
A court in San Isidro, near Buenos Aires, will hear testimony from just under 100 witnesses as it tries Maradona’s medical team over alleged negligence in the death of the 1986 World Cup champion.
His medical team has denied wrongdoing. The defendants are psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov, neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque, psychologist Carlos Angel Diaz, physician Nancy Edith Forlini, nurse Ricardo Almiron, head nurse Mariano Ariel Perroni, and physician Pedro Pablo Di Spagna. An eighth defendant, nurse Dahiana Madrid, will be tried in a separate jury trial, with no date yet set.
Two months into the first trial, which started last March, a mistrial was declared when one of three judges, Julieta Makintach, resigned after video surfaced showing her being interviewed by a camera crew in the corridors of the courthouse and in her office as part of a documentary, in breach of judicial rules.
The retrial will require both prosecutors and defense lawyers to reassess their strategies after the first trial aired photographs, videos, audio recordings and forensic evidence. Many witnesses, including Maradona’s children and his former wife, Claudia Villafane, have already testified.
Prosecutors argued in the initial trial that medical professionals broke treatment protocols and that the home where Maradona was recovering from surgery amounted to a “theatre of horror,” where necessary care was not provided.
The defense countered that his death was inevitable given his longstanding health problems. Maradona struggled for decades with cocaine and alcohol addiction.
The negligence charges emerged in 2021 after prosecutors appointed a medical board to investigate Maradona’s death. The panel concluded his medical team acted in an “inappropriate, deficient and reckless” manner.
-Reuters
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Aliou Cisse has been named coach of the Angola national team, the country’s football federation (FAF) announced on Thursday, 24 hours after the Senegalese left his post in Libya.
The 50-year-old coach, who led Senegal to their maiden Africa Cup of Nations title in 2022, ended his short stint with the Libyan national team on Wednesday, after taking charge in March 2025.
“Welcome, Aliou Cisse, head coach of the Angola national team,” the FAF said on Facebook. Angola, which failed to reach this year’s World Cup, will start their 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign in September.
-Reuters
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