Rohr happy with Mikel

On the back of the victory of Nigeria’s national team over their Algerian counterparts in the FIFA 2018 World Cup qualifier, the Nigerian coach Gernot Rohr has extolled the leadership role played by captain Jon Obi Mikel in the victory.

Chelsea star Mikel captained and played a sterling role in the 3-1 triumph over the Algerians in Uyo, Nigeria on Saturday.

Rohr told Tribunesport at the lobby of the Le Meridien Hotel after the match played at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, said Mikel was matured and a true leader that the team needed at this time.

“He played like a true leader, commanded the respect of the team, marshalling and putting so much energy into the effort of the team’.

The Technical Adviser also sought to clarify the statement credited to him alleging that Mikel was being “punished” by his club for representing Nigeria in the Olympic Games.

“I was quoted out of context. Perhaps the word ‘punish’ might have come too strongly. But I meant it in a larger sense of the price he is paying for his participation in the Olympics’.

Rohr contended that he, having been a club manager himself for years, he could never openly criticise the actions of any club in dealing with their players.

“What I was trying to say was that we should all acknowledge the commitment of the team captain to the national team and the price that he might have had to pay, missing action for his club in the time he was in the Olympics’ he clarified.