Mikel out of World Cup

Nigeria midfielder John Obi Mikel has been ruled out of the World Cup due to injury, according to a team official.

The Chelsea midfielder has been struggling to shake off a knee problem after undergoing surgery in recent weeks and has now told his country's football bosses he did not want to put the injury into further risk.

"We have dropped Mikel from the World Cup after he told the team he did not want to put his career at risk as his knee injury has yet to fully heal after a recent surgery," team co-ordinator, Emmanuel Attah, told www.mtnfootball.com.