Mikel Calls Hector Cuper's Men Cheat

Roma's Mohammed Salah denied Mikel Obi full three points as the captain of Super Eagles in Friday's African Cup of Nations qualifiers at the Ahmadu Bello stadium.

Salah benefited from a quick pass from Ramadan Sobhy, while

the Eagles were hoping the Egyptians observe fair play in the added three minutes of the encounter.

Oghenekaro Etebo gave Nigeria the lead in the 60th minute after converting a close range shot from Manchester City's Kelechi Iheanaco but were unable to hold on to the lead as the prepare for the second leg in Alexandria next Tuesday. 

“I think we played very well but we lost a lot of chances that we created that could have fetched us total victory in today’s match against Egypt,” Mikel told media.

“Everybody is saying we lost the game in the last three minutes but all I can say is that fair play is fair play, it doesn’t matter, fair play is fair play.

“Okay you can say we should have concentrated a little more, but Fair Play is Fair Play. This is cheating, that is all I can say. It happens in Egypt, it happens everywhere. It doesn’t matter how many minutes it is, you have to allow it. It is the referee that controls the game.”

Mikel, who is one of the few Nigerian internationals to have won the champions league and Europa league titles said after the game that the three time Afcon champions will get the needed result in Egypt in four days after Friday's encounter.

“I am very optimistic like the coach [Samson Siasia] that the way we played today we have a very good chance of getting a win in Egypt,” Mikel assured.

The Eagles remain two points behind the Pharaohs who have seven points atop Group G with Tanzania lying in third place with four points and Chad yet to earn any.