Chelsea Ace Mikel Enters Nigeria Folklore, Beats Odemwingie Eight - Year Record

Published: August 14, 2016

Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel became the oldest ever Nigerian player to score at the Olympic Games when he found the back of the net in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Denmark in Salvador.

Aged 29 years, 3 months and 22 days, the Team Nigeria Captain broke the previous record set by Peter Odemwingie, who was 27 years, 1 month and 1 day when he opened scoring against Ivory Coast in the quarterfinal of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Before Odemwingie set the record, ex-Roda winger Garba Lawal’s goal against Italy at Sydney 2000 meant he was Nigeria’s oldest scorer in the competition, overtaking former Barcelona star Amuneke, who was 25 years, 7 months and 9 days when he netted the most important goal of his career against Argentina in the final of Atlanta 1996.

Peter Anieke (1968) and Rashidi Yekini (1988 ) once held the record until it was broken in subsequent competitions.

Mikel could extend his own record if he scores in Nigeria ’s last two games in Brazil.

Oldest Nigerian Players To Score At Olympic Games

1) John Obi Mikel - 29 years, 3 months and 22 days
2) Peter Odemwingie - 27 years, 1 month and 1 day
3) Garba Lawal - 26 years, 3 months and 28 days
4) Emmanuel Amuneke - 25 years, 7 months and 9 days
5) Rashidi Yekini - 24 years, 10 months and 28 days

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : chelseafc.com