Super Eagles legend John Obi Mikel has reflected on Nigeria’s 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) triumph, describing it as his most special moment with the national team as it was deeply significant not only for him but for millions of Nigerians.
Mikel was a vital part of the Nigerian squad that lifted the AFCON title in South Africa. His outstanding performances earned him a spot in the CAF Team of the Tournament, alongside teammates Vincent Enyeama, Efe Ambrose, Victor Moses, and Emmanuel Emenike.
Under the leadership of the late Stephen Keshi, the Super Eagles navigated the group stage unbeaten before overcoming a star-studded Ivory Coast side in the quarterfinals. They went on to beat Mali in the semifinals and secured victory in the final with a memorable strike from Sunday Mba against Burkina Faso.
Speaking on That Peter Crouch Podcast, Mikel compared the AFCON win to his Champions League success with Chelsea, emphasising the emotional and cultural importance of the tournament for Africans.
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“We play everything, we win the Premier League, the Champions League, but it’s always special when you win something with your national team. I’ve always said that my African Cup of Nations title, I’ll rank it together with the Champions League. When you see the joy it brings not just to you or your family but the people of the country, in Africa we go crazy about football, football is everything.”
“We had Didier Drogba stop a war because of football, that’s how massive it is for us. That’s why I responded to Carragher when he tried to discredit a tournament that people die for, that people go crazy for. I shed my blood and tears to win it, I respect the European tournament, don’t discredit our tournament,” he added.
Describing the celebrations that followed Nigeria’s victory, Mikel said the scenes back home were euphoric, capturing the passion Nigerians have for football.
“It’s massive and for me to finally win it was huge. The party was crazy especially when we got back to Nigeria, millions of people outside, people didn’t sleep, they were screaming, shouting, dancing, music was playing, everyone was getting drunk, it was absolutely crazy.”
Mikel also spoke about how the AFCON had always been an inspiration for him since childhood, watching Nigerian greats like Jay Jay Okocha and Nwankwo Kanu light up the tournament.
“I’ve always said it, growing up I was always watching the African Cup of Nations, that is one of the tournaments that inspired me to be a footballer. Watching Jay Jay Okocha, Kanu playing these tournaments, I said when I grew up, I also wanted to play there.”
He recalled how the team’s success was recognised at the highest level, with the players receiving a warm welcome from the presidency and generous rewards.
“For me to finally win it was absolutely special. We went to the President’s house, we got a nice reception, we got offered massive plots of lands each, I don’t think I know where mine is, but it showed how much that was appreciated.”
According to Mikel, the pressure to deliver a major title with the national team grew following his success at club level, especially after winning the Champions League with Chelsea in 2012.
“2012, 2013 was when the pressure started mounting because I was winning everything with Chelsea and the country was like you need to win something with us. That pressure was coming not just to me but to my family, my brothers, my sisters, my parents.”
“Sometimes when people say that, they say it’s a joke, but it’s not a joke. It started to get more and more serious, I could feel the pressure starting to come, I was like I need to do something here.”
Mikel concluded by reflecting on the magnitude of the challenge they overcame at the tournament, defeating top African stars to achieve a long-awaited success that, in his view, even surpassed the emotional high of winning the Champions League.
“To go through that tournament, having such pressure from the whole country, coming up against Didier Drogba, Yaya Touré, Salomon Kalou, and to blow them away in the quarterfinals and then to go on in the final to win it was something absolutely fantastic.”
“I felt a little bit more than when I won the Champions League because of how much it meant to the people of Nigeria.”
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