Mikel upbeat at CAF award

Nigeria’s John Obi Mikel is hoping to be crowned Africa’s best player at the Confederation of African Football awards this week, he said on Wednesday.

The Chelsea midfielder is vying for the prestigious award with the Ivorian pair of Yaya Toure, of English Premier League rivals Manchester City, and Didier Drogba, from Turkish club Galatasaray.

“It is an honour to be selected and nominated for the award. I am looking forward to winning it for my country,” Mikel, who has twice been voted Africa’s best young player, was quoted as saying on supersport.com.

The 26-year-old helped Nigeria win a third Africa Cup of Nations in February last year and also qualify for a fifth World Cup finals in November.

He also won a first-ever Uefa Europa League title for his club side.

Rashidi Yekini, Emmanuel Amuneke and Victor Ikpeba have previously won the CAF player of the year award but former Arsenal ace Nwankwo Kanu was the last Nigeria star to clinch it in 1999.