Mikel Obi, Super Eagles captain, has reacted to the rumour of him retiring from international football.

The Tianjin Teda midfielder declared that he was not planning to retire from the Super Eagles without making an official statement to inform the public.

He made the disclosure while speaking to newsmen at the launch of his foundation in Lagos.

Obi said, “A lot has been said about my absence in the national team; I think if you have been on something for a very long time you would at some point need a little break and that’s all I’m doing, just taking a little break.

“I haven’t retired yet, I know people have said, that I think the day I will retire, I will let everyone knows, I haven’t and I’m also happy the team is doing really well without me which is very good so that I know that when I retire, I leave the team in good situation.

“We have qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations Cup and we will see what happens with my fitness and my motivation to go and play and win the Nations Cup again.

“I want the motivation to be 100 per cent, to go. If it’s 60, I don’t want to go. Hopefully, it will come back soon.”

Meanwhile, Super Eagles’ coach, Gernot Rohr has said the former Chelsea player is still in his plans for the Africa Cup of Nations scheduled for June 2019, and there are speculations that Mikel could make his final appearance for the Super Eagles at the tournament.