Obi Mikel rules himself fit for Nairobi match

• Super Eagles pick strong squad for match against the Harambee Stars

Nigeria have lined up perhaps one of their finest squads to face Kenya in their must-win 2010 Fifa World Cup qualifying duel in Nairobi next Saturday, with the Super Eagles’s Chelsea FC of England midfielder John Obi Mikel declaring himself fit to play.

Reports from Nigeria indicate that there will be no cash bonuses for the Super Eagles who re-group this Sunday for the trip to Nairobi.

The Nigerian players traditionally receive $5,000 (Sh375,000) for a win and $3,000 (Sh225,000) for a draw.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president, Alhaji Sanu Lulu Abdulahi, has declared that there would not be any special package for the Super Eagles to beat Harambee Stars at Kasarani.

Lulu said on Monday that the South Africa World Cup finals ticket is not any more 100 percent guaranteed, hence the decision to drop the bonuses.

Remarkably, Mainasara Illo, the chief executive officer of the Local Organising Committee for the Fifa Under-17 World Cup, whose second round starts on Wednesday, has said that the Super Eagles lackluster performance in the senior qualifiers has adversely affected the Golden Eaglets, Nigeria’s team in the junior competition.

Meanwhile, midfielder Obi Mikel has revealed that he is fit again and should be back playing for Chelsea this weekend. Mikel has missed the last three games for Chelsea after suffering an ankle injury, but he says he will return to the pitch against Manchester United on Sunday. 

“I will start playing again this weekend,” Mikel said on Monday. “I’m also looking forward to helping Nigeria get a win in Nairobi. 

“It is very important for us to get a win, and we all have to work hard and pray that the result favours us.”

Mikel has been named in Nigeria’s 23-man squad to face Kenya.

Beleaguered Super Eagles coach Amodu Shaibu also handed CSKA Moscow defender Chidi Odiah and Club Brugge forward Joseph Akpala recalls but left out domestic players from his team for the must win game.

There was no room for Sporting Club of Portugal midfielder, Rabiu Ibrahim, who impressed for the Flying Eagles at the last Fifa Under-20 World Cup in Egypt.

Chinedu Obasi, of German club side Hoffenheim, who hobbled off the pitch last Wednesday in a cup game, is also missing from Amodu’s plans, as is the duo of right full-backs Olubayo Adefemi and Yusuf Mohammed, who are also down with injuries.

Tunisia top Group Two with 11 points while Nigeria have nine followed by Mozambique on four and Kenya on three.

Consequently, Kenya’s Harambee Stars polished up for their last act with an international friendly warm up against Kuwait last evening in Cairo. The all-locally based outfit is expected back in the country today while the Super Eagles will depart for Nairobi aboard a chartered flight on the night of Thursday, November 12.