By Daily Sports on May 6, 2019
Nigeria’s John Obi Mikel scored his first Championship goal and DR Congo's Britt Assombalonga was also on target as Middlesbrough defeated Rotherham United 2-1 in Sunday’s Championship fixture.
Despite the victory at AESSEAL New York Stadium, Tony Pulis’ men finished the 2018-19 season in seventh spot, a point adrift of the Championship playoff zone.
Assombalonga opened the scoring for Middlesbrough from the penalty spot in the 28th minute, and stretched his tally to 14 goals in 42 league outings this term.
Nine minutes later, Mikel – who captained the visitors – doubled the lead by rifling his left-footed shot into the roof of the net.
The effort was the Nigeria international’s first goal since he returned to England as a free agent in January. It was also his second goal in English league football after 267 appearances.
On the international scene, Mikel has not played for Nigeria since their group stage exit from the 2018 Fifa World Cup in Russia but he is expected to be part of Gernot Rohr's squad for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Super Eagles have been drawn into Group B against Madagascar, Guinea and Burundi.
Assombalonga’s DR Congo also qualified for the continental showpiece in Egypt and they have placed in Group A against the host nation, Zimbabwe and Uganda. (Goal)
•Photo shows John Mikel Obi
Source Daily Sports
Posted May 6, 2019
You may also like...
NFF hands Waldrum new Falcons contract
Dogo charges Nasarawa United to surprise Enyimba
Frank Mba: 10 Facts You Need To Know...
I Won’t Kill Myself For Champions League —...
Former British Number 1 Joana Konta Retires From...
Rooney: Ronaldo Deserved Ballon d’Or over Modric
Adesanya hails Ngannou as best heavyweight UFC fighter
Flamingos will make Nigeria proud — Olowookere
Davido, Burna Boy to feature in NPFL All-Star Game
Car crash: Leverkusen explain Boniface’s health condition
Kayode’s hat-trick delights Şanlıurfaspor
POTM award thrills Flamingos’ Chidi
Dubois warns Joshua ahead of rematch
Osimhen’s bicycle kick goal work of art — Galatasaray
NPFL: Remo beat Insurance to go top
Victor Osimhen appreciates his decision to join Galatasaray on loan from Napoli, adding that he didn’t want anyone to decide his future. The Nigeria striker made this assertion while reflecting on his protracted summer transfer saga that saw Napoli desperately sell him off to Al-Ahli and Chelsea in the embers of the window, with the latter his long-term choice destination offering peanuts for his signature. The 25-year-old said that he was prepared to remain at Napoli for another three or four months and secure a move to one of his suitors in January, reiterating the relief ushered by the Galatasaray offer. “I had plans to stay there and wait for three or four months and leave in January, but I think for me it was fair also to stay there because I wouldn’t let anyone decide for me,” Osimhen told Turkish media, including TRT Spor, from the Galatasaray training centre.
Breaking barriers: Rise of athletes with albinism in sports amid stigma
U-17 Women’s W’Cup: Olowookere eyes more positive results
Most Read
Rangers International going, going . . . (55,109 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (46,225 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (44,300 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (43,944 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (43,894 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (43,850 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (43,683 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (43,254 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (42,291 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (41,012 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (39,452 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (38,882 views)