Mikel Obi scared of Drogba at AFCON: Super Eagles legend did not want to face Cote d'Ivoire

Super Eagles of Nigeria legend Mikel Obi is back on the social media trends.

The retired football star has detailed his Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) experience.

Mikel Obi teamed up with his former Chelsea colleague Didier Drogba.

In an interview with the Confederation of Africa (CAF), Obi detailed his AFCON battles with Drogba who was with Cote d'Ivoire.

Obi explained that he was scared of Drogba whenever they met because he was aware of the threat of goal.

He said, "Obviously the one player that I, that I never wanted to meet that, I, I didn't,

"I was lucky I didn't meet quite a lot was Didier Drogba.

"You know, I was always scared meeting him because I knew that at some point in the game, he will score."

Obi while playing the Super Eagles of Nigeria faced off against Drogba's Cote d'Ivoire at the 2006, 2008, and 2013 AFCON editions.

Drogba got the better of Mikel as Cote d'Ivoire defeated Nigeria in the 2006 semifinals and 2008 group stage.

However, Obi was able to get one ahead of Drogba in the quarterfinals of the 2013 AFCON as the Super Eagles went on to wiwn the trophy.

For the forthcoming 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, the Super Eagles of Nigeria have been placed in Group A with the hosts, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, and Guinea Bissau.

The tournament will be hosted in Abidjan, Cote D'Ivoire, from January 13 to February 11, 2024.

Nigeria topped its qualifying group with 15 points, scoring 22 goals in the process.

This achievement included a stunning 16-0 aggregate victory over Sao Tome & Principe.

Nigeria, which has won the AFCON three times in a row (in 1980, 1994, and 2013), will try to win it again and have branded Let's Do It again.

Former Super Eagles captain Mikel Obi was one of the draw assistants for the AFCON.

Mikel voiced his belief that the Super Eagles had a solid chance of winning the championship.

Both sides have recorded three victories in their head-to-head matchups at the AFCON, while they have also agreed to two draws.