Oliseh: Mikel ignored my calls, text messages

Super Eagles coach, Sunday Oliseh, did not invite John Obi Mikel to the national team because the player has remained incommunicado.

The Chelsea midfielder was left out of the 18-man squad of foreign-based players invited for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Tanzania in Der es Salaam on September 5.

But Oliseh revealed he didn’t invite Mikel because he has yet to establish contact with him.

“I have not spoken to Mikel up till now,” he said.

“I have contacted him on several occasions with no reply. I sent him an sms, no reply. I went to London, he plays in same club with Victor Moses, Victor came to the meeting, we spoke, he did not.

“Every player we have invited, we have spoken to.

“No player is special, every player is the same.  We will not win games with just one player, but with 11 players.”

Stephen Keshi, Oliseh’s predecessor, also had a similar experience with the Chelsea player.

However, the current Eagles coach said he will not pass any judgment on the player until he has interacted with him.

“I can’t pass judgment on a person I have not spoken to him,” he said.

Mikel last played for Nigeria in November against South Africa in a 2015 AFCON qualifier in Uyo.