Former Nigeria captain Christian Chukwu Okoro is well convinced that Ghana midfielder Michael Essien is miles ahead of his country man Mikel Obi.

The ‘Bison’ fell down the pecking order at the Stamford Bridge prompting him to accept a season-long loan deal with Real Madrid on transfer deadline day.

“I would choose Essien on any second, and any minute over Mikel,” Chukwu told Sunyani-based Storm FM. “Essien is the best in the holding midfield role, Mikel is still learning.”

“Essien is a more powerful and a complete defensive midfielder than Mikel. Mikel is good but he has more to learn more before he can get into the class of Essien.”

“For me I would always prefer Essien but [Roberto] Di Mateo has chosen Mikel over him,” the former Super Eagles coach said.

Chukwu was the captain when the Eagles lifted the African Cup of Nations in 1980 and also coached them when they reached the semi-finals of the same competition in Tunisia.