Chelsea midfielder, John Obi Mikel, has been appointed Super Eagles captain by coach Samson Siasia.
Mikel, 28, replaces CSKA Moscow winger Ahmed Musa who was appointed skipper by former coach Sunday Oliseh after the latter stripped Vincent Enyeama of the armband.
Siasia informed Mikel and Musa about his decision on Wednesday night, saying he decided to hand the armband to the team’s longest serving player.
“Mikel is the oldest serving player in the team and it is the right thing for him to have the armband,” Musa told ESPN FC. “This is just to correct what was done in the past.
“The most important thing for us right now is to concentrate on the two games in front of us and make sure that we beat Egypt and qualify for the (African) Nations Cup.”
Speaking at a press conference, ahead of Friday’s AFCON 2017 qualifier against Egypt, Musa declared “I want to announce now that from today, John Obi Mikel is our new captain.”
Happening now in Kaduna.
Ahmed Musa : I want to announce now that from today, John Obi Mikel is our new captain. pic.twitter.com/LT3xtTNqhR— Nigeria Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) March 24, 2016
Mikel thanked his predecessor, assuring Nigerians “it will be a new Super Eagles with a new approach.”
