Jon Obi-Mikel, of EPL champions Chelsea, has withdrawn from Nigeria’s squad for the finals after failing to recover from a knee operation undertaken last month.

The 23-year-old midfielder was a late arrival at the squad’s base and was unable to take full part in any of the Super Eagles training sessions in South Africa.

He will be replaced in the squad by uncapped striker Brown Ideye, who plies his trade in France’s La Championnat with Sochaux.

A Nigerian Football Federation spokesman said: “We have dropped Mikel from the squad after he said he did not want to risk his career.”