John Obi Mikel
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - 06/2014
Personal Information
Full name
John Michael Nchekwube Obinna
Date of birth
22 April 1987
Place of birth
Jos, Nigeria
Height
1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Playing position
Defensive Midfielder
Club information
Current club
Chelsea
Number
12
Youth career
Plateau United: 2002-2004
Senior career*
Lyn: 2004-2006
6x apps / 1x goal
Chelsea: 2006-
206x apps / 1x goal
National team‡
Nigeria: 2006-
51x apps / 4x goals
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 11 May 2014.
† Appearances (Goals).
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 23 June 2013
John Michael Nchekwube Obinna (born 22 April 1987), commonly known as Mikel John Obi, John Obi Mikel or John Mikel Obi, is a Nigerian footballer, who plays as a midfielder for English club Chelsea and the Nigeria national team.
05/2014
Nosa Igiebor is one of the seven players to be dropped from Nigeria's final 23-man squad for the World Cup. The Real Betis midfielder and Parma's Joel Obi, who both faced Scotland in last week's 2:2 draw, have been plagued by injury this season. The other players to miss out are goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi, midfielders Ejike Uzoenyi and Nnamdi Oduamadi.
Substitute Uche Nwofor's late strike denied Scotland victory against Nigeria at Craven Cottage.
Okocha was born in Enugu, Enugu State. He began playing football on the street just like many other football stars, usually with a makeshift ball.
African teams participating in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil
Nigerian keeper Vincent Enyeama thrilled by award - He said: "It's amazing, a great honour and I deeply appreciate it. I must first give glory to God, my team-mates, family and our beautiful fans for their remarkable support. "It's a reward for team effort and having great people in front of me. Together we've endured a tough but interesting season."
The Villarreal striker was not picked by Keshi, despite scoring 12 goals in the Spanish top flight this season. Uche has not played for his country since they won the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa last year. The 30-year-old insists, however, that he holds no grudges against Keshi. "Of course as a professional footballer you'd love to represent your country, but I have never had bad words towards the national coach," Uche is widely regarded as one of Nigeria's most reliable strikers at international level and is one of his nation's all-time top scorers, with 18 goals in 45 appearances, behind Rashidi Yekini, Segun Odegbami and Yakubu Aiyegbeni.
Stoke striker Peter Odemwingie and Newcastle forward Shola Ameobi are in Nigeria's provisional 30-man World Cup squad for Brazil 2014.
Fixtures and results for the 2014 Confed Cup.
2013 champions: CS Sfaxien (Tunisia)
Winners advance to group stage
African Players on the FIFA 100 list:
• Abédi Pelé (Ghana)
• El Hadji Diouf (Senegal)
• George Weah (Liberia)
• Jay Jay Okocha (Nigeria)
• Roger Milla (Cameroon)
Dynamo Kiev midfielder Lukman Haruna hopes he can still make Nigeria's World Cup squad. The 23-year old has not played for the Super Eagles since the last World Cup in South Africa.
