Former Chelsea midfielder and Nigeria legend John Obi Mikel has opened up on why winning the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with the Super Eagles stands out as the most emotional achievement of his illustrious career — even above lifting the UEFA Champions League with Chelsea, Soccernet.ng reports.
Obi Mikel was a central figure in the Nigerian team that conquered Africa in South Africa over a decade ago. The midfielder’s commanding performances earned him a deserved spot in the CAF Team of the Tournament alongside key teammates Vincent Enyeama, Efe Ambrose, Victor Moses, and Emmanuel Emenike.
Guided by the late and revered coach Stephen Keshi, the Super Eagles wobbled their through the group stage before a memorable quarterfinal victory over a star-studded Ivory Coast side, featuring Didier Drogba and Yaya Touré. They followed up with a dominant semi-final win against Mali, before Sunday Mba’s unforgettable strike sealed victory in the final against Burkina Faso.
What Obi Mikel said of the AFCON
Speaking on That Peter Crouch Podcast, Obi Mikel described just how meaningful the victory was — not just for himself, but for millions of Nigerians who live and breathe football.
“We play everything, we win the Premier League, the Champions League, but it’s always special when you win something with your national team,” Mikel said.
“I’ve always said that my African Cup of Nations title, I’ll rank it together with the Champions League. When you see the joy it brings not just to you or your family but the people of the country — in Africa we go crazy about football, football is everything.”
He went further to defend the prestige of AFCON following past criticisms from some European quarters, particularly recalling Jamie Carragher’s dismissive comments about African tournaments.
“We had Didier Drogba stop a war because of football, that’s how massive it is for us.
“That’s why I responded to Carragher when he tried to discredit a tournament that people die for, that people go crazy for. I shed my blood and tears to win it, I respect the European tournament, don’t discredit our tournament.”
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Recalling the jubilant celebrations that followed Nigeria’s triumph, Mikel painted a picture of nationwide euphoria.
“It’s massive and for me to finally win it was huge.
“The party was crazy especially when we got back to Nigeria, millions of people outside, people didn’t sleep, they were screaming, shouting, dancing, music was playing, everyone was getting drunk, it was absolutely crazy.”
The 2013 AFCON was more than just another tournament for Mikel.
It was the realisation of a childhood dream — one inspired by watching Nigerian icons like Jay Jay Okocha and Nwankwo Kanu dazzle at previous editions.
“I’ve always said it, growing up I was always watching the African Cup of Nations, that is one of the tournaments that inspired me to be a footballer.
“Watching Jay Jay Okocha, Kanu playing these tournaments, I said when I grew up, I also wanted to play there.”
Beyond the footballing high, Mikel and his teammates were celebrated at the highest level. The players were received by Nigeria’s president and handsomely rewarded.
“For me to finally win it was absolutely special.
“We went to the President’s house, we got a nice reception, we got offered massive plots of lands each, I don’t think I know where mine is, but it showed how much that was appreciated.”
The pressure to deliver at national level had grown intensely in the years following Mikel’s European club success.
After lifting the Champions League with Chelsea in 2012, expectations from fans and even his own family became unrelenting.
“2012, 2013 was when the pressure started mounting because I was winning everything with Chelsea and the country was like you need to win something with us. That pressure was coming not just to me but to my family, my brothers, my sisters, my parents.
“Sometimes when people say that, they say it’s a joke, but it’s not a joke. It started to get more and more serious, I could feel the pressure starting to come, I was like I need to do something here.”
That “something” turned out to be historic. Nigeria’s triumph — achieved against the odds and over some of Africa’s most powerful sides — remains etched in the hearts of fans.
“To go through that tournament, having such pressure from the whole country, coming up against Didier Drogba, Yaya Touré, Salomon Kalou, and to blow them away in the quarterfinals and then to go on in the final to win it was something absolutely fantastic.
“I felt a little bit more than when I won the Champions League because of how much it meant to the people of Nigeria.”
Mikel retired from international duty in 2019 after a remarkable 14-year career with the Super Eagles.
He won 91 caps, scored six goals, featured in five AFCON tournaments, two World Cups, and earned an Olympic bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Games.