Chelle unveiled his 28-man squad ahead of the tournament, but the list notably excluded players such as Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, Wolves forward Tolu Arokodare, Crystal Palace’s Christantus Uche, and Celtic striker Kelechi Iheanacho.
Speaking on his Obi One Podcast, Mikel expressed skepticism about the selection process, questioning whether the squad truly reflects sporting merit. “I don’t think the right players are being selected from what I hear,” he said.
The former Chelsea midfielder went further, suggesting that Chelle may not have had full autonomy in making his choices. “I think the manager doesn’t have the full authority to select who he wants. I think there’s a lot of influence on his selection,” Mikel added.
Nigeria is set to face Egypt in a preparatory friendly within the next few hours before opening their Group C campaign against Tanzania. The Super Eagles’ group also features Uganda and Tunisia, setting up a challenging start to the tournament.
Mikel’s comments add to the debate around the squad, as fans and analysts alike weigh the merits of the omissions and the potential impact on Nigeria’s performance in Morocco.