Ahead of tonight’s all-important semi-final clash against Algeria, Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr has lavished praise on Chelsea legend John Obi Mikel on his importance to the team whether or not on the pitch, Bestchoicesports.com.ng understands.
Mikel has not featured for the Super Eagles since he suffered a knee injury against Madagascar in the final Group B game and he is unlikely to return to the starting line-up vs Algeria as Alex Iwobi is now ahead of him in the pecking order of playmakers.

However, Rohr acknowledged that the number 10 is playing the mentor’s role to the young players in the squad while Musa, who has worn the armband in three matches, is another leader in his team.

”The coaching and playing career are similar, I tell them to enjoy the time they are players because it goes so quickly and what you will do after you stop football,” Rohr told reporters at Saturday’s pre-match press conference.

”The best moment is when you are a player and they have to enjoy this moment. Play as long as possible, I tell them we have Obi Mikel here with us.
”Even if he is not starting the game, he is doing a good job as a captain, he’s a guide for the young players.
”Some of you believed, in Nigeria especially, that Obi Mikel coming back and not starting the games, we will have a problem.

”There is no problem and we have two captains, Mikel and Ahmed Musa, who is also a very important African player”.

The Super Eagles were heavily criticized by the fans following their lackluster performance against Madagascar but Rohr believes their supporters are now singing a different tune after back-to-back wins against Cameroon and South Africa.
The German added: ”The team is playing good, I didn’t see many people criticizing our performance, I had a lot of positive comments.
”In the first half against South Africa we played so well, there was no shot on our goal and we could score two goals easily.

”The Cameroon game was one of the best games in the tournament, we played offensively, we have young players, we have good wingers who are fast.
”We have good solidarity, my team is giving a good image of the country, they are fighting, they never give up, so I am satisfied but we want to reach the final and then we’ll see. ”

A place in the final of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations is at stake when the Super Eagles battle the Desert Foxes at the Cairo International Stadium on Sunday evening.

Igho Kingsley