Mikel Obi has confirmed he would report at the Nigeria AFCON training camp in Faro, Portugal, on January 5.

The Chelsea midfielder also played down a knock on his knee in an English Premier League game against Norwich City, saying he is fully fit even though he was not listed for Sunday’s clash at Everton.

Mikle Obi

Mikel told MTNFootball.com that he would leave for Faro, Portugal, along with club mate Victor Moses immediately after an FA Cup game against Southampton.

“I have two more games to play for Chelsea before I will resume at the Nations Cup training camp in Faro, that would be the league game against QPR and an FA Cup tie against Southampton on January 5. I will leave for the camp immediately after the game together with Victor Moses,” he informed

Mikel is poised for his fourth AFCON after he made his debut at the 2006 tournament in Egypt.

Chelsea boss Rafael Benitez had wanted to have his Nigeria stars till at least January 9 for the Capital One Cup semi-final against Swansea City.

“The tournament starts on the 19th (January), so they will go one or two weeks before. Maybe we can manage to keep them a little bit longer.

“We will talk with them. They know sometimes the players do not need to go early. But at least one week before the 19th, they have to be there,”said the Blues interim manager.

He hinged his argument on the FIFA statues that mandates clubs to release their players two weeks to the a tournament in which the players’ country are participating.