J. Mikelis: 'E. Chelle's excuse about magic was just ridiculous'

2025-11-22 17:44 © IMAGO/Shengolpixs

Former longtime Nigeria national team player John Obi Mikel commented on head coach Eric Chelle's excuses after the penalty shootout loss to the Democratic Republic of Congo and failing to qualify for the World Cup:

"If black magic worked in football, do you know how many times Nigeria would have won the World Cup by now?”

"He was just looking for excuses, and this one was simply ridiculous.”

The Nigerian national team missed the World Cup for the second consecutive time after this loss.

38-year-old John Obi Mikel played for this national team from 2005 to 2019.

The midfielder scored 6 goals in 91 matches.