I Am Now Matured To Lead The Super Eagles - Mikel Obi

Mikel Obi ahead of Sunday World Cup Qualifying match
against Zambia: I am now matured to lead the Super
Eagles Ahead of the all important Russia 2018 World Cup
qualifying Group B match away at Zambia, Super Eagles
of Nigeria captain John Mikel Obi has said he is now
matured to lead the team.
“Sometimes when you are young, you make mistakes but
the more you grow up, the more you know the things
that are more important. “I think that I am beginning to
know where I come from and that is more important than
anything. “I have more responsibility now to lead the
country and the team; I think that is what I am doing
right now because I enjoy every bit of it,” he said.
The Chelsea midfielder said that the Eagles would use
the opportunity of the World Cup qualifying matches to
make up for not qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations
(AFCON) for two consecutive times. Nigeria has won six
of 16 previous matches (None of the 16 previous clashes
was a World Cup qualifying match) with Zambia, drawing
five and losing five.
Nigeria defeated Zambia 5-4 on penalties to win a
memorable Africa Cup of Nations final in Tunis in 1994.
Zambia walloped Nigeria 5-1 in the first -ever encounter,
a 1974 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match in Lusaka
on July 15, 1973.
Nigeria’s 3-2 win in the return leg in Lagos two weeks
later was of no effect. However, the Zambians have not
beaten the Eagles in a competitive match in the past 31
years while Nigerian on the other hand have never
beaten Zambians on their home soil.