Brazil: Keshi, Mikel want victory over France

We were No 5 in 1994...Mikel wants victory over France to make a statement that Nigeria has arrived at the soccer map of the world.

Nigeria midfielder John Obi Mikel is hopeful that victory over France and a first World Cup quarter-final appearance can help unite the African nation currently gripped by violence and bloodshed. 

Mikel, 27, said the troubles had made an impression on the squad but he pressed the need for his team mates to focus on Monday’s last 16 match against France and do their bit to bring people together. “I think football is what unites everyone back home in Nigeria, everyone loves football, and as long as we keep doing well and as long as we keep winning, I think this football alone can bring unity back to these various places where we are having problems.” 

Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi also pressed the need to bring cheer to the strife hit fans of the Super Eagles, who are the first African country to get past the World Cup group phase on three separate occasions. Peppered with questions about a bonus pay dispute involving the squad and the Nigerian Football Association, Keshi, known as “Big Boss”, was clearly bemused by the interest in a problem he explained was over and said his team were “good to go”.

Brazil 2014: Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel believes Nigeria are on the right track

Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel believes Nigeria are on the right track to build on their success as African champions at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The Super Eagles have played in five of the past six World Cups but after reaching the second round in 1994 and 1998, have taken just two points from their past six matches in the finals.

They come into the tournament on a high, however, after winning last year’s Africa Cup of Nations and boasting the likes of Mikel, his Chelsea team-mate Victor Moses and forward Emmanuel Emenike.

“This is my first World Cup,” Mikel said after a training session in Campinas. “I want to make sure we achieve something coming here. We don’t just want to come and make up the numbers, we want to do well.

“I have to make sure I lead by example. We are all driving in the same direction. We all know what we want and hopefully we will have a good tournament.”

BRAZIL EXCLUSIVE: Super Eagles demand World Cup appearance cash

AfricanFootball.com can exclusively reveal that Nigeria stars led by skipper Joseph Yobo and Mikel Obi have met with the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to demand an appearance fee for the World Cup.

This is outside the match bonus, which starts at $10,000-a-man for a first round match win, announced for the players for Brazil 2014.

“The players led by Yobo and Mikel met with NFF president Aminu Maigari and some of his officials to demand for their own share of the cash FIFA will pay the country for at least featuring in the first round of the World Cup,” a top source informed AfricanFootball.com

Nigeria will already earn more than $9 million for qualification and participation in the first round of the 2014 World Cup and they will get more if they reach the knockout stages of the competition.