John Obi Mikel Reveals How He and Drogba Made Chelsea Popular in Africa
How Mikel and Drogba Inspired a Generation of African Football Fans
John Obi Mikel, the former Nigerian midfielder, has attributed the popularity of Chelsea Football Club in Africa, particularly in Nigeria, to his own influence and that of his former teammate Didier Drogba.
In an interview, Mikel stated: “In Africa, they started to support Chelsea mostly because of me and Didier Drogba. We were the two African players who played for Chelsea at a time when the club was really successful. Didier was a legend, and I was playing regularly, so people started to identify with us and support the team.”
Mikel further explained that in Nigeria, his home country, Chelsea's popularity grew exponentially due to his presence at the club, and later, Victor Moses' arrival also contributed to the team's widespread support.
He said: “In Nigeria, Chelsea became popular because of me, and then later because of Victor Moses. We were the two Nigerian players who played for Chelsea, and people loved us. They saw us as their own, and they started supporting the team because of us,” he added.
Mikel's statement highlights the significant impact that African players have had on the popularity of European football clubs in Africa. The success of players like Mikel, Drogba, and Moses has inspired a new generation of football fans in Africa, who now proudly support teams like Chelsea.
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