Super Eagles Chief coach Stephen Keshi has blamed Mourinho for Mikel’s decline

Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi has said a lack of playing time in Chelsea has contributed to the decline of star midfielder Mikel Obi.The Super Eagles defence of the African Nations Cup has not begun well as they started off with 3-2 loss to Congo in Calabar. On Wednesday, they played out a goalless with South Africa. The result puts them in third with one point. Mikel plays an advanced midfield role in the Super Eagles but he has struggled to find his form in recent times.continue...
In the game with the Bafana Bafana he was again anonymous and Keshi feels that his bit part playing in Chelsea may likely have a hand in his performance decline. “It might [be]. He's not playing in his [club] team, that doesn't mean I cannot use him in my team. That is the coach’s choice not to play him in his team, but my team is in good shape,” Keshi was quoted as saying on Hereisthecity.com.  “After a world of experience playing [in the] Champions League, he earned his place and he has to make the best out of the situation,” he continued. Mikel has not been a regular at Chelsea for several seasons now and seems to have fallen down the pecking order with the likes of Nemanja Matic and Cesc Fabregas in better form.