Mikel and Ighalo in Good-natured Banter as Tianjin Teda Faces Changchun Yatai Clash

As Chinese Super League (CSL) rivals Tianjin Teda and Changchun Yatai gear up for a weekend clash, Super Eagles captain Mikel Obi and his international teammate Odion Ighalo have engaged in light-hearted banter on social media, hinting at a friendly rivalry between the two stars.

The exchange began when Mikel shared a throwback photo on his Twitter account, featuring the duo in their former Premier League days, with Mikel in Chelsea blue and Ighalo in Watford colors. Mikel humorously warned Ighalo that the upcoming CSL clash would be a challenging encounter. “You won’t get this close to me at the weekend @ighalojude!” Mikel tweeted.

In a playful response, Ighalo joked about Mikel eventually congratulating him after the game. “Haha skippo, you going to congratulate me after the game. Good luck tomorrow,” Ighalo replied.

Ighalo, who has been in a prolific goal-scoring form, will aim to extend his streak with a third consecutive league goal when Changchun Yatai hosts Tianjin Teda. The Nigerian striker has netted an impressive six goals in his last two appearances and boasts seven goals in nine CSL games this season. Meanwhile, Mikel has contributed with one league goal in nine appearances for Tianjin Teda.

Changchun Yatai currently sits 13th in the CSL standings with 11 points, while Tianjin Teda occupies the ninth position with 12 points in the 16-team league table. The banter between Mikel and Ighalo adds a touch of camaraderie to the anticipated clash between the two sides.