By Onochie Anibeze
Samson Siasia was in a dilemma before the failure against Guinea Saturday. He did not want to field Mikel Obi because  of the attitude of the Chelsea player. Obi was late to camp and his reason for not beating the deadline to report to camp appeared more offending.

“I had to assist my brother renew his passport,” Mikel reportedly told the team when siasia asked him to say why he reported late to camp for such an important national duty. Mikel’s answer didn’t make sense to anybody as he was not an immigration officer and he could have also done that by proxy.

Siasia felt that Mikel lacked professionalism and the commitment to play on Saturday and did not want to field him. But he was under pressure over what Nigerians would make of his  decision in the wake of remarks on his earlier actions against Osaze and recently Vincent Enyeama. But more worrisome was  finding a replacement for Mikel since Fegor Ogude who could have played  Mikel’s role in the midfield was moved to the right back position after Chibuzor Okoronkwo’s injury. That was Siasia’s dilemma.

He decided not to raise any more storm before the match so that the team would be united and achieve victory. But his calculation on the team especially on Mikel failed woefully.

After 20 minutes Mikel was resting his hands on the waist and in second half he was sometimes walking on the field. Yet he did not release the ball quickly to others when in possession. He had a good company in Osaze, Obasi, Emenike and all who couldn’t raise their game to put Nigeria to Saturday’s shame when they failed to qualify for the Nations Cup, the first time it was happening to Nigeria since 1986 Nations Cup in Egypt