Mikel: I have no injury

Cape Town - Nigeria skipper John Obi Mikel has dismissed talk that he will miss Sunday's World Cup qualifier against Zambia due to injury.

Mikel's club Chelsea issued the following statement on their Twitter account last Friday ahead of their match against Hull, which they won 2-0.

"[Head coach, Antonio] Conte rules John Terry out of tomorrow's game. Mikel is also out with a small muscular problem."

But Mikel has subsequently stated that he is fit and raring to go ahead of the Super Eagles' opening 2018 World Cup qualifying match, in Ndola, Zambia, this weekend.

"I don’t know where the story about my being injured came from. I have no injury,” Mikel was quoted as saying in a Nigeria Football Federation press release.

"All the other players and myself are fit and ready and we are determined to start the World Cup race on a winning note."

The 29-year-old Mikel is yet to feature for Chelsea in any competition this season.