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Mikel Obi, Odion Ighalo retire from Super Eagles
Nigeria’s Super Eagles captain, John Mikel Obi hasannounced his retirement from international football.
On his verified Instagram page, Mike Obi said, at the age of 32, it was time for him to bow out of the team and let the young ones take over.
Sharing a photo of himself in the national jersey, Mikel Obi wrote, “Egypt is a country where I’ve started and have finished my national career. In 2006, I played my first official championship for my country. 2019 African Cup of Nations marks my last championship for national team with Super Eagles.
My national career started in 2003 under 17 World Cup and I’m grateful for the national team for placing me on the world arena and giving me an opportunity to show my skill and have an incredible national and international career. At the age of 32, it’s time for me to retire from the national team and let the youth take over, who’ve done an amazing job securing a bronze medal at AFCON 2019.
In the same light, professional Nigerian footballer, Odion Ighalo has officially retired from international football and is expected to make the announcement soon, after a successful outing at the 2019 African Cup of Nations.
The Shanghai Shenhua striker had limped off in the 44th-minute of the third-place match against Tunisia on Wednesday, after scoring the only goal that gave the Super Eagles team the bronze medal.
Ighalo’s retirement is coming after he made his national team debut under Daniel Amokachi in 2015, and playing his first World Cup competition in 2018 in Russia. Sports journalist Osasuo reported that Ighalo agreed with Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr, not to make a public statement before the third-place playoffs with Tunisia.
Though retiring, he is also a strong contender for the 2019 Golden Boot award at AFCON with five goals as Senegal’s Sadio Mane and Algeria’s Adam Ounas are closest with three goals.
