analysis
Before Nigeria were due to play Argentina in a crunch group clash, captain John Obi Mikel was told his elderly father had been kidnapped. He told no one and played on.
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After Nigeria lost to Argentina in their final group stage of the 2018 World Cup, John Obi Mikel was visibly emotional. Understandably so. The Super Eagles had come within a few minutes of knocking Lionel Messi's side out of the tournament and progressing to the last 16.
In his post-match interviews, he appeared distracted, as you might expect from a captain. Nigeria, the youngest side at this year's World Cup, had showed so much promise, but so little return.
It wasn't...