Former Nigeria midfielder Ogenyi Onazi has claimed that former Super Eagles captain John Mikel Obi held so much power in the national team that certain players were effectively blocked from being invited.
He made the allegation on the Home Turf podcast, saying Mikel’s influence affected squad selection and naming Tony Nwakaeme as one of those who allegedly missed out on call-ups as a result.
Onazi said Mikel was “too influential” during his time with the Super Eagles and insisted there were players he ensured were not invited, pointing to Nwakaeme, who ended up with just one cap for Nigeria. He added that Mikel later apologised to Nwakaeme when they met at a restaurant in Istanbul, calling that incident just one of several similar episodes.
Despite this, Onazi spoke very positively about Mikel’s overall impact on his own career, describing the ex-Chelsea star as a major source of inspiration. He recalled how Mikel would return from England with boots, jerseys and even money to share with teammates, and said playing alongside him felt like a privilege.
Onazi explained that seeing big clubs like Chelsea and Manchester United battle for Mikel’s signature made him believe he could also succeed in football. He noted that he personally benefited from the items and support Mikel brought back to the team and stressed how much that motivated younger players around him.
He also mentioned that they sometimes clashed on the pitch, with Mikel demanding the ball in certain situations, but Onazi said he always apologised afterwards out of respect for Mikel’s seniority. According to him, those disagreements never damaged their relationship, as he continued to see himself as “his boy.”
The pair later linked up again at Trabzonspor in Turkey in 2019, where they were joined by Nwakaeme. Onazi revealed in an interview that year that he played a decisive role in persuading the club to sign Mikel, telling the president how important he could be for the team and urging them to secure him at all costs. He added that, just as he had previously pushed for Nwakaeme’s signing, he also helped convince Mikel to choose Trabzonspor ahead of other Turkish clubs that wanted him.
