Former Super Eagles skipper, John Mikel Obi, has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 35.
The 2013 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) winner said he will be ending his football career spanning over 20 years in a post on his Instagram page on Tuesday.
“There is a saying that ‘all good things must come to an end,’ and for my professional football career, that day is today,” he wrote.
“I look back at the past 20 years of my career, and I must say that I am very satisfied with all that I was able to achieve and more importantly the human it has helped shape.”
“All of this would not have been possible without the unwavering support of my family, managers, clubs, coaches, teammates and most importantly my ever-loyal fans.
“You supported me through my highs and lows, even on days that I did not live up to your expectations. I say a big thank you.”
“I will also like to encourage everyone who I may have inspired one way or the other in the course of my career to never give up on their dreams, for every time you think about quitting, remind yourself why you started.
“This is not goodbye, it’s the start of another journey, another chapter of my life. I look forward to what the future holds and I hope you will walk with me. Thank you.”
During his 13-year reign with the country’s national team, Mikel scored six goals in all competitions.
He earned 88 caps playing for Nigeria before retiring from his international career in 2019.