RIO 2016: NOC debunks Mikel’s captaincy of Team Nigeria

ALL appears not to be well in Team Nigeria’s camp with only few days to the commencement of action in the Rio 2016 Olympics.

The clear sign of divi­sion emerged yesterday with the Nigeria Olym­pic Committee (NOC) washing her hands off the appointment of Super Eagles captain, Mikel Obi as Team Ni­geria captain to the Rio Games.

The sports ministry had on Tuesday named

Mikel Team Nigeria cap­tain with Funke Oshon­aike as his vice.

But the NOC said yesterday that it knows nothing about the ap­pointments that is com­ing one week after the Nigerian contingent was handed over to her by President Muhammadu Buhari.

NOC’s secretary gen­eral, Tunde popoola did not mince words yester­day when he told Daily Sunsports that Mikel’s captaincy is nothing but rumor to the Olympic body.

“To me it is rumor because I don’t know anything about Mikel being Team Nigeria captain. I have read it in the papers and we are addressing the issue. But be sure that appointment is not coming from the NOC,” Popoola said.

Meanwhile, the Nige­ria Olympic Committee Medical and Scientific Commission has issued out guidelines to athletes and officials to prevent the spread of Zika virus pre and post Rio 2016.

Chairman of NOC Medical and Scientific Commission, Dr Akin Amao said that follow­ing the guidelines issued

by WHO to prevent the spread of Zika virus would help Nigeria go­ing to the Games to stay safe and healthy’.