Two Nigerians In As Chelsea Reveal Official African XI; Aina, Moses Make Bench

Published: September 30, 2020

The official website of Chelsea has revealed an official African XI in the wake of Senegal international Edouard Mendy becoming the first African goalkeeper to play for The Blues after debuting in a Carabao Cup fixture against Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday night.

Two former Nigeria internationals in the shape of John Obi Mikel and Celestine Babayaro have been picked in the starting XI comprising ten Chelsea legends.

In a 3-4-3 formation, Mikel was deployed as one of the two central midfielders, with Babayaro playing on the left side of central defence.

In ten and half scintillating years at Stamford Bridge, the former Super Eagles captain recorded 372 appearances, winning the Premier League twice, the FA Cup four times, the League Cup twice, and the Champions League and Europa League too.

Babayaro became the first African player to be signed by Chelsea when he joined as a teenager from Anderlecht in 1997 and went on to make 132 appearances for the London club in the Premier League, scoring five goals.

The 1996 Atlanta Olympics gold medalist spent seven and half years at Stamford Bridge and won the UEFA Cup Winners Cup, UEFA Super Cup and FA Cup.

Chelsea Academy product Ola Aina has been named to the bench alongside Victor Moses, Baba Rahman, Bertrand Traore, Mohamed Salah, Demba Ba and Hakim Ziyech.

Chelsea African XI : Mendy; Babayaro, Desailly, Geremi; Makelele, Mikel, Essien, Kalou; Eto'o, Drogba, Weah

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : chelseafc.com

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