Under-23 national team, Naija Eagles head coach, Samson Yebowei Siasia kept his word to visit Chelsea of England midfielder, John Mikel Obi in London, as the former Super Eagles head coach continues plans for the Olympic Games in August.
Speculation has been on about interest from Mikel in being part of the under-23 squad to Rio 2016, as an over-aged player in Siasia’s selection, such that the coach felt compelled to hold heart-to-heart talks with the new senior national team captain.
Mikel became Eagles’ captain during Siasia’s recent return to the senior team’s bench as interim handler of the side, but the bigger picture between both stars has been how Mikel failed to honour a similar invitation by the same coach to be part of the squad to Beijing 2008 Olympics.
That came just three years after Mikel shot to limelight as the second best player at Holland 2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup, in which he was an emergent kid in Siasia’s squad that went on to win silver, and all expectations were that the former Lyn Oslo of Norway star would readily link forces once again for the trip to Beijing, China.
However, it turned out the other way round, with media speculation then hitting an all time high of a perceived strife between coach and player, until they appeared to mend fences during the Eagles’ camping for their back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Egypt.
Such is the ray of hope raised by under-23 national team media officer, Timi Ebikagboro, who posted on social media a photograph of Sia1 during last weekend’s visit to Mikel at Chelsea’s home ground, Stamford Bridge.
Although Mikel was not dressed for the last game of the season, which The Blues drew 1-1 with visiting new champions, Leicester City, Ebikagboro insinuated in his post on Facebook that the Chelsea star was consoled to meet up with Siasia and both had a cordial get-together alongside other Nigerians on the fringes of the last day clash in ,London.
Ebikagboro hinted as much, as he posted captivating words alongside the photograph and stated: “Samson Siasia today at Stamford Bridge with Mikel and my mainest man Tofe.”
