Mikel named Team Nigeria Rio 2016 Captain

John Obi Mikel has been named the Team Nigeria captain for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The sports ministry in Nigeria stated that the Chelsea midfielder has been picked as he is regarded as "a role model to the upcoming athletes."
The 29-year-old is one of the over-aged players named in the Nigeria Under-23 national team for the men's football event at the Olympics.

 

t is the first time that Mikel will make an appearance at the Olympic Games.

 

Table tennis star Funke Oshonaike has been named assistant captain.

 

“Mikel is a young, patriotic footballer of international status and we believe he will be a role model to the upcoming athletes while Funke Oshonaike is experienced and is one of the oldest athletes in the team. We believe that their combined efforts will bring goodwill to Team Nigeria and project the county's image positively to the world," stated the head of mission, Christian Ohaa.

 

The Olympics in Brazil will be staged between August 5 and 21.



Meanwhile, the U-23 team and officials have all received their new NIKE kits for the tournament  according to a tweet from the media officer of the team, Timi Ebikagboro.

 

"With this NIKE bag, all what the players and officials need in terms of training and house wear are packed in here," Ebikagboro tweeted on Tuesday, before confirming Mikel's Team Nigeria captaincy.

 

"Dream Team players congratulating Mikel Obi as captain of Team Nigeria, today after morning training, congrats," Ebikagboro added with a picture of Mikel and his teammates.

 

Mikel who joined up with the squad in Atlanta on Sunday is one of the two over-aged players selected by coach Samson Siasia for the men's football event at the Olympics. The other one is Chippa United goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi.

 

The team is expected to depart for Rio from Atlanta on 29 July, few days before the start of the Olympics.