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Hopes are high that Nigeria’s international midfield star John Mikel Obi will today be crowned African Footballer of the Year award 2013.

Mikel has been nominated for the prestigious award alongside current holder of the crown, Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Cote d’Ivoire), and Didier Drogba (Galatasaray and Cote d’Ivoire). Unlike the Ivorian duo who did not win any major titles last year, Mikel played a key role in Nigeria winning the Africa Cup of Nations – the Super Eagles beating the dreaded Elephants on their way to ruling the continent last February in South Africa.

In anticipation of his victory tonight at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos, South-West Nigeria, Mikel is to be flown in and out by the jet of his English Premiership League giants Chelsea, where he is a regular.

“I am coming for the CAF awards, I will be flown in and out of Nigeria by the Chelsea jet. I will arrive on the awards day and return immediately after,” Mikel told MTNFootball.com.

“It is an honour to be selected and nominated for the award. I am looking forward to winning it for my country,” he added.

The mesmerising midfielder is expected to be accompanied to the event by his brothers Patrick Tochukwu Obi and Ebele Obi, who is a goalkeeper with Nigeria Premier League side Heartland, will.

Nwankwo Kanu was the last Nigerian to be named Africa Footballer of the Year by CAF when he won it in 1999.

•Photo shows Mikel Obi.

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