The Secretary-General of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Tunde Popoola, has reaffirmed the appointment of John Mikel Obi as captain of Team Nigeria to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.
Popoola, who was at the office of the Minister of Youth and Sports on Thursday with the President, Habu Gumel, for a meeting with Solomon Dalung stated categorically that at no time did the Nigeria Olympic Committee deny or reject Mikel Obi as captain of Team Nigeria.
“I did not tell the media that Mikel is not the captain of Team Nigeria. I told the media that their stories were capable of causing distraction and disunity among athletes. Mikel is a Nigerian athlete and likewise Segun Toriola who you all thought deserved to be the Captain. It doesn’t matter who is the captain. They are both Nigerian athletes and are in camp for a common purpose which is to make Nigeria proud at the Olympic Games in Rio. I want to plead with Sports writers to desist from writing stories capable of causing disaffection and disharmony in the Nigerian camp. Let us project our athletes and the country positively to the outside world,” Popoola pleaded.
Meanwhile, Team Nigeria Captain Mikel Obi has promised to work together with all athletes for their collective interest. Obi was named Captain of Team Nigeria Monday night while table tennis star Funke Oshonaike is the assistant team captain.
