Chelsea midfielder, John Mikel Obi, has been apppointed captain of the Nigerian contingent to the 2016 Olympic Games taking place Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.
Obi, one of the three over-aged players invited to the national U-23 football team for the games, is making his first appearance at an Olympic Games.
Table tennis star Funke Oshonaike is the assistant team captain. This will be Oshonaike’s sixth appearance at the Olympics after she debuted at Atlanta ’96.
The Dream Team VI is expected to depart for Rio from Atlanta USA on July 29 for the Games which will commence on August 5.
According to the ministry of sports, Mikel Obi and Funke Oshonaike were chosen because of their consistency, patriotism and dedication to national assignments.
“Mikel is a young, patriotic footballer of international status and we believe he will be a role model to the upcoming athletes while Funke Oshonaike is experienced and is one of the oldest athletes in the team.
“We believe that their combined efforts will bring goodwill to TEAM NIGERIA and project the country’s image positively to the world,” a statement from the Sports Minister’s Special Adviser on Media, Nneka Ikem -Anibeze, stated.
