AFCON: Mikel opted out of Liberia clash —Coaching crew

 

 Mikel Obi

CHELSEA midfielder Mikel Obi opted out of next month’s 2013 AFCON clash in Liberia because of the astro turf pitch in Monrovia.

However, with the Liberians now shifting the game from an artificial pitch stadium to one with natural grass, officials are mulling a return for Mikel.

Top officials insisted that Mikel was on coach Stephen Keshi’s list of call-ups for the September 8 clash in Monrovia, but the midfielder was later dropped after he told the coach he would struggle on the astro turf in Liberia.

“There is no question about it – Mikel is very much part of Keshi’s plans, but the coach had no option but to leave him out of the match in Liberia after he told him he does not like to play on artificial pitch,” a top official informed MTNFootball.com

“However, both Keshi and the player may now have a rethink after Liberia informed us that the match will now be played on natural grass.

“It’s up to the coach to make the final call now.”

Keshi has already raised concerns over how his Europe-based pros will adapt on the astro turf after they struggled on the surface against Rwanda earlier this year in another Nations Cup qualifier.

He has also been very particular in this regard about Mikel, who has not hidden his disapproval to playing on an artificial pitch as a player is more vulnerable to injury on it than on a grass pitch.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have already swung into action to ensure the Eagles performance was not affected by the pitch in Liberia after kit sponsors adidas agreed to ship boots specially meant for astro turf ahead of the game.