Controversial midfielder John Mikel Obi may, along with Chinedu Ogbuke, miss out on the Super Eagles win-or-break World Cup qualifier against Algeria as Norwegian club Lyn Oslo have threatened not to release him for the Eagles training camp in Algarve, Portugal, following their delayed return to Norway.
Controversial midfielder John Mikel Obi may, along with Chinedu Ogbuke, miss out on the Super Eagles win-or-break World Cup qualifier against Algeria as Norwegian club Lyn Oslo have threatened not to release him for the Eagles training camp in Algarve, Portugal, following their delayed return to Norway.
KICK OFF learnt that Lyn fired a letter on Friday warning the NFA that the players may not allowed to join the rest of the Eagles squad for the all-important World Cup game on 4 September against Algeria because of their delayed return.
Both Mikel and Ogbuke made their senior international debuts against Libya earlier this month and have been included in a 26-man squad that will train in Portugal from Monday ahead of the all-important World Cup qualifier against Algeria on 4 September.
However, a top official of the NFA has now informed KICK OFF the players will now return to Norway on Tuesday.
Lyn have formally complained to world soccer governing body Fifa that Mikel has failed to return despite Fifa's latest ruling.
The club had hoped to feature Mikel in Sunday's league game against champions Rosenborg and had therefore issued the player a Friday, 19 August, deadline, to return to the club.
'The Eagles will travel out to Portugal Sunday night and both Mikel and Ogbuke will not be with the team because they will travel on Monday by British Airways back to Norway via London," a top NFA official told KICK OFF.
'The players have been delayed from getting back to their base as a result of difficulties they have encountered trying to renew their travel documents."
