Former Super Eagles captain and Chelsea midfielder, John Obi Mikel, has cast doubt over the integrity of Nigeria's squad selection for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), suggesting head coach Eric Chelle may not have had full control over the final list.

Chelle, the Malian tactician recently appointed to lead the Super Eagles, released a 28-man squad for the biennial tournament scheduled to hold in Morocco. 

The list has generated widespread debate, with several first-time call-ups included and notable omissions such as goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, striker Tolu Arokodare, winger Olakunle Olusegun and former Leicester City forward Kelechi Iheanacho.

Speaking on his Obi One Podcast, Mikel questioned whether the selections truly reflected sporting merit, hinting at external interference in the decision-making process.

Mikel, who won multiple Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League during his club career, expressed concern about the credibility of the squad, warning that undue influence could undermine team performance at the tournament.

"I don't think the right players are being selected from what I hear," he said. 

"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," he added. 

Mikel also drew a comparison with the late Stephen Keshi, Nigeria's AFCON-winning coach in 2013, recalling how the former national team boss resisted pressure ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

"I remember the late Stephen Keshi when he wanted to make his World Cup selection, called me up and say Mikel, I want to make the squad but these f****s keep calling me trying to influence my decision," Mikel recounted.

"They say I have to pick this player but you know me, I will always do what's right and I will pick the players that I think deserve and will go and help this country do well in the World Cup."

Meanwhile, the Super Eagles opened their training camp on Sunday, with 25 players currently in attendance ahead of an international friendly against Egypt scheduled for Tuesday. 

The match is expected to serve as a key test as Chelle fine-tunes his tactics and personnel ahead of the tournament.

Nigeria have been drawn in Group C of the AFCON, where they will begin their campaign against Tanzania on December 23, before facing Tunisia on December 27 and Uganda in their final group fixture on December 30.

Adeyemi Adewale