
Nigeria vs Tunisia: Why Mikel Obi will not play for Super Eagles in third-place playoff
Mikel Obi has only played in two games at this year's AFCON - the first and last Group B fixtures against Burundi and Madagascar respectively.
Mikel Obi has only played in two games at this year's AFCON - the first and last Group B fixtures against Burundi and Madagascar respectively.
Round of 16 fixtures: July 5 17:00 Morocco vs Benin 20:00 Uganda vs Senegal July 6 17:00 Nigeria vs Cameroon 20:00 Egypt vs South Africa July 7 17:00 Madagascar vs DR Congo 20:00 Algeria vs Guinea July 8 17:00 Mali vs Ivory Coast 20:00 Ghana vs Tunisia
However, Rohr dropped him down the pecking order behind Daniel Akpeyi, who started four games and Ezenwa who manned the post against Madagascar.
Gernot Rohr brought him back against Madagascar, a game that proved to be his last in the green and white.
Mikel strained his knee in the Super Eagles' 2-0 loss to Madagascar and was replaced by Alex Iwobi in the 59th minute.
THE POTS Pot 1: Egypt, Cameroon, Senegal, Tunisia, Nigeria, Morocco Pot 2: DR Congo, Ghana, Mali, Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea, Algeria Pot 3: South Africa, Uganda, Benin Republic, Mauritania, Madagascar, Kenya Pot 4: Zimbabwe, Namibia, Guinea Bissau, Angola, Tanzania
The prizes will be distributed as follows: Angola and Kenya (Third place in group-stages): $620.000 Round of 16: $670.000 (Benin, Uganda, Egypt, Mali, Guinea, DR Congo, Cameroon and Ghana) Quarter-finals: $800.000 (Madagascar, Ivory Coast, South Africa and
The pots: Pot 1: Algeria, Senegal, Tunisia, Morocco, Ghana, Egypt, Cameroon, Mali, Congo DR Pot 2: Burkina Faso, South Africa, Guinea, Uganda, Cabo Verde, Gabon, Benin, Zambia, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire Pot 3: Madagascar, Mauritania, Libya, Mozambique, Kenya, Zimbabwe
Losing to debutants Madagascar was not only shocking to some Nigerians but embarrassing to others.
Nigeria will face Burundi, Guinea and Madagascar in Group B of the 2019 AFCON.
Nigeria are in the same group alongside Burundi, Madagascar and Guinea and they are favourites to progress to the next stage.
Tunisia, Nigeria, Morocco, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Cameroon (hosts), Egypt, Burkina Faso, Mali, Ivory Coast, Algeria Pot 2: Guinea, South Africa, Cape Verde, Uganda, Zambia, Benin, Gabon, Congo Brazzaville, Mauritania, Niger, Kenya, Libya Pot 3: Madagascar
Mikel, a Chelsea legend, featured for just two matches against Burundi and Madagascar in the tournament. Announcing his retirement from national duty, he wrote, "Egypt is a country where I've started and have finished my National career.
Others are: Shyn from Madagascar; WCB Wasafi, Rayvanny- and Mbosso from Tanzania and Nyashinski from Kenya.