When considering Nigeria's star performers this summer, John Obi Mikel's name is startlingly absent.

Despite the midfielder's experience and many qualities, he failed to impose himself in the Super Eagles' opening three games and has, at times, been accused of slowing down the team's play and lacking defensive discipline.

Forgotten is the vitality and innovation of the Confederations Cup.

In this great debate, two of Goal Nigeria's writers debate the Chelsea man's continued presence in the heart of the Super Eagles' team.

"Keshi can and should bench Mikel"
“Nigeria qualified for the second round of the World Cup despite defeat to Argentina.”

That statement could have been totally different had results in the other group game gone differently.

That is, if Iran had beaten Bosnia and Herzegovina with the same margin as they lost, 3-1, the Super Eagles would have touched home by now.

John Obi Mikel's underperfomance would have been the highlight of a very sad tale.

In the second round, however, there is no room for second-best teams.

If Nigeria are to defeat France on Monday, the Super Eagles cannot afford to field a player who has been second-best with every touch, every pass, every tackle, offensively and, quite surprisingly, defensively, throughout the tournament.

The Chelsea man is not one to go under the radar in a match. And certainly not in the World Cup where every game is high profile and every minute spent on the pitch is an opportunity to shine on the grandest platform of world football.



^{Is Mikel trading on past glories?}

No doubt, he’s a senior and respectable member in the team based on caps and responsibilities. However, Nigeria’s persistent faith in him has, and could, cost the team more. The national goal is far greater than one player’s ego.

His underperformance against the Albiceleste wasn’t a one-off. It also had nothing to do with a second yellow card which would have ruled him out of the Knockouts. First, the rules were changed, which I’m sure the team is aware of. Secondly, his decline predates the tournament itself.

It’s hard to see why Keshi cannot bench him. The Big Boss can and should. There could never be a ‘perfect timing’ to do it.

This writer was one of those who raised placards protesting Michael Babatunde’s inclusion in the team to Brazil. It was the same for when he was included in the win-or-burst match against Bosnia at the expense of Victor Moses—the ‘Messiah’ of the Super Eagles.

Babatunde shocked everyone with a strong fire-for-fire performance that attracted praise from all, even his critics.

The Big Boss has stated that everyone in his team is capable of doing the job as he has shown with the Moses and Babatunde episode; even goalkeeper, Vincent ‘The Cat’ Enyeama can be replaced...

If we continue to rate Mikel on past glory and popularity levels, we would be doing ourselves a huge disservice.

Let the best man play.

Source: http://www.goal.com/en-ng/news/4082/editorial/2014/06/30/4924659/should-john-obi-mikel-be-dropped-against-france?ICID=HP_HN_4

I comment my reserve

Keshi bench mikel pls.
bring him after 50 mins. This guy dull game

The most important question..Who will replace him?

the way mikel passes to d sideline een u'll think he's a side niqqa..
Mikel should be benched, let us give other ppl d chance to show their worth.

Mikel should not start today match ooo

We saw what happens when Mikel Isn't on the field vs USA.

He can't be benched.

Bench him and replace him with who? You will still be the ones coming here to whimper about how Keshi made us lose the game because he refused to include Mikel in today's game. Mikel's performance during this world cup has been very insipid; but, one fact we cannot dispute is that our midfield will be without composure if Mikel is benched... our game against Scotland and his removal when we played USA has a lot of story to tell us about his impact in the team. Succeed in this your ill logical campaign and see how pitiless we will be hammered today.