Super Eagles skipper, John Obi Mikel, says he is “overwhelmed’ to be named Team Nigeria captain to the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Mikel, 29, will be appearing at the quadrennial showpiece for the first time after being named in Samson Siasia’s 18-man football squad.
The Chelsea midfielder was shockingly selected on Tuesday by the Ministry of Youth and Sports to lead the Nigerian contingents to Rio.
And the football star has expressed his joy to be considered for the role which he describes as the highest accolade in sports.
“First and foremost, I will say I am overwhelmed with this opportunity to be the captain of Team Nigeria to the Rio Olympics,” the Chelsea no 12 told Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) website on Wednesday.
“This is the highest accolade you can ever have as a sportsman and it’s one I am really looking forward to.
“I am much pleased and very happy with myself for what I have been able to achieve, and grateful to the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports and the entire country for this opportunity.”
Much is expected as captain of the team and Mikel admits he is very much aware of the task ahead – which is to lead the country to success.
“My objective is definitely going to be to carry everyone along,” he added.
“I think it’s important that we all work together, it’s important that we all set one goal, and that goal is to be successful, to win medals, to make sure we get gold medals.
“Our country has not done very well in recent times at the Olympics, so hopefully we can go to Rio and do well.”
On his role as team captain to a massive sporting fiesta like the Olympics, the former Lyn Oslo man said:
“It’s massive, it’s big, it’s not just the football team. I am the captain of the Super Eagles.
“Sometimes you look at it and you think that’s a big burden, but this is even much bigger, it’s one that I am looking forward to.
“If you look at my track record at Chelsea, I have always played for the team, I have always been a team player, I have never been an individual player, so I think this is something I will be carrying into the Olympics and carry into Team Nigeria to make sure that we are successful.”
