Chelsea's Mikel pleads for safe return of abducted dad

LONDON - Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel appealed to kidnappers on Monday for the safe return of his father after he was abducted in Nigeria last week.

The 24-year-old Nigeria international played in Sunday's season-opening 0-0 draw at Stoke City despite knowing his father, Michael, was abducted on Friday.

In an interview with Sky Sports News, Mikel said: "We haven't heard anything, no phone calls, nothing.