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Former Chelsea midfielder has expressed gratitude for both Kenya's Rising Star and Nigeria ahead of the showdown at U-20 AFCON.
Former Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel has said the match pitting Rising Stars against Nigeria at the on-going Africa Cup Of Nations U-20 ACON will be tough but crucial to both teams.
The Salim Babu-coached Rising Stars will settle scores against Nigeria on May 7 at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo, in what will be a defining moment for Kenya who are debuting in the competition.
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Mikel cannot wait to see the two teams battle, arguing that there's enough talent on display to make the encounter entertaining.
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“In Nigeria squad, we have a lot of talent, Kenya I am sure they have a lot of talent as well, it is going to be a great game, it is going to be a good game to watch, for us Nigeria, we always want to do well, we always want to win AFCON whenever we play in the tournament, so I am sure it is the same for Kenya as well, it will be a great game and may the best team win,” Mikel told Flashscore.
Rising Stars suffered their second defeat at the AFCON after losing 3-1 to Tunisia on Sunday after another error-strewn performance. Rising Stars are bottom of the group with zero points.
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Nigeria boast of four points after winning and drawing one match apiece. The West African country will qualify to the next round should they beat Kenya.
The two-time English Premier League winning midfielder with Chelsea at the same time reiterated the need for continued nurturing of talent across the continent.
“I hope we continue to develop African football because African football is massive, is huge, the nation, the continent is huge, people watch a lot of football and it football which unites us, it is football which keeps us together, it is what brings people together, when football is off everything stops,” he said.
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Mikel added that football is a serious business and career that tends to uplift somebody from nothing. “We need to eat and drink football and that is what we do, and we enjoy as long as we and we continue to develop these young kids, trust me, I started like this and nobody thought that one day I will be whom I am, you can never take anything for granted, so this kids one day I hope to watch them on TV.”
The U-20 tournament is set to end on May 18 in Egypt. Four teams will qualify to the U-20 World Cup.
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