Former Nigerian national team captain, John Obi Mikel, has expressed his willingness to make a comeback to the team, a decision he announced four years ago when he retired from international football. This comes a year after he retired from active football.
Mikel boasts a distinguished international career, having played 91 matches for the Nigerian senior national team, progressing from the U17 and U20 levels to the senior squad. He also represented the U23 team as one of the overaged players during the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.
With experience in two World Cups and four AFCON tournaments, one of which Nigeria won in 2013, Mikel decided to step away from international football after the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, concluding a remarkable 14-year tenure with the Super Eagles.
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On September 27, 2022, at the age of 35, Mikel announced his retirement from professional football. He has since launched his own podcast, where he shares his insights on recent football developments and reflects on his experiences from his active playing days.
When asked about the possibility of returning to the Super Eagles in a different capacity, especially with the team embarking on the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup and the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations, Mikel expressed his enthusiasm for the idea.
“I’m genuinely interested in taking on a backroom role, and the transition from the pitch to the technical bench is something that intrigues me. If the opportunity arises from Nigeria, I would be open to contributing to the team’s success,” he affirmed.