Onazi Claims Mikel Obi’s Influence Blocked Some Super Eagles Call-Ups

Former Nigeria midfielder Ogenyi Onazi has alleged that ex-Super Eagles captain John Mikel Obi wielded significant influence within the national team, reportedly preventing some players from receiving call-ups.

Onazi made the revelation during an appearance on the Home Turf podcast, saying that Mikel’s influence affected squad selections, with Tony Nwakaeme among those who missed out during that period.

“Mikel was too influential when he was in the Super Eagles. When he was playing, there were some players because of his influence. There were some players whom he made sure not to get invited into the Super Eagles,” Onazi said, specifically mentioning Nwakaeme, who earned only one cap for Nigeria.

Onazi added that Mikel later apologised to Nwakaeme during a meeting at a restaurant in Istanbul, noting that this was just one of several similar incidents.

Despite the controversy, Onazi praised Mikel’s positive impact on his own career, calling the former Chelsea midfielder a source of inspiration. He recalled how Mikel would return from England with football boots, jerseys, and money, which he shared with teammates.

“Mikel was a big player. He inspired us a lot. When Chelsea and Manchester United were fighting for his signature, it made me believe that if someone I saw every day could reach that level, then I could also make it in football. Whenever he comes back from Chelsea then, he brings a lot of boots and jerseys and even shares money for some of us, and I was a beneficiary. It’s a privilege to play alongside him,” Onazi said.

He also addressed occasional on-field disagreements, emphasizing that he always respected Mikel’s seniority. “There were times on the pitch when we disagreed. He would say, ‘Give me the ball now,’ even though there were other players available. But after the game, I would always go to apologise because he was my senior. That never changed our relationship; I was always his boy,” he added.

The duo later reunited at Turkish side Trabzonspor in 2019, where Onazi played a key role in convincing the club to sign Mikel. Speaking to The Punch, he said:

“I’m very excited, of course. The club had several options, and he was just one among them. So, the club president asked about him from me, and I told them all they needed to know and how good he can be for the team. I pushed it to them to get him at any cost because I know what he can bring to the team. Just like I did when Anthony Nwakaeme was on the club’s radar last season, I also had to convince Mikel to choose Trabzonspor well ahead of other Turkish teams who were on his trail.”

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