The
likelihood of Mikel Obi featuring for Nigeria against Rwanda in the
February 29 African Nations Cup qualifying match is growing slimmer by
the day as the Super Eagles midfielder continues to stay out of action
for his English League team Chelsea.
The Nigerian was again not in action on Sunday when
Chelsea took on Manchester United at Stamford Bridge. He was not even
listed on the bench by Andre Villas-Boas for the game that ended 3-3.
Mikel has been out of action since December 22 when he suffered a
hamstring injury in the 1-1 draw against Tottenham at White Hart Lane.
The Nigerian was out in a match Ghana’s Michael Essien started for the
first time this season.
Eagles coach Stephen Keshi has called up 30 players
from the Nigeria Premier League for the second phase of camping which is
billed to lead up to the final stage before the match billed for
Kigali. The fitness battle may knock out Mikel who made the headlines
for the wrong reasons as Nigeria crashed out of the 2012 Nations Cup
finals.
On Sunday Manchester United fought back from three
goals down in a thrilling match. Two penalties from Wayne Rooney and a
header by Javier Hernandez kept the champions in touch with leaders
Manchester City after Chelsea had built a 3-0 lead in 51 minutes through
an own goal by Jonny Evans, a scorching left-foot volley from Juan Mata
and a David Luiz header.
But United, who dominated most of the first half,
struck back with two penalties from Wayne Rooney after 58 and 69 minutes
and Hernandez powered in a header seven minutes from time after Cech
had saved a Rooney shot.
The result left City two points clear of United at the top of the table with 57 points, both teams having played 24 games.
Chelsea, without injured skipper John Terry and
midfielder Frank Lampard and the suspended Ashley Cole, stayed in fourth
place on 43 points, six behind Tottenham Hotspur who play at Liverpool
on Monday.
In the day’s earlier game, Newcastle United beat Aston Villa 2-1 to move above Arsenal into fifth place on 42 points.
Substitute Papiss Cisse scored on his debut to secure Newcastle’s victory.
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