John Obi Mikel played in Chelsea's 0-0 draw at Stoke City on Sunday while grappling with the news his father had been abducted in Nigeria last week, the midfielder's management company said yesterday.

The Nigeria international, who came close to scoring in his club's opening match of the season with a long-range volley that goalkeeper Asmir Begovic saved, decided to play despite finding out his father had gone missing on Friday.

"Thus far no ransom demand has been received," The Sport Entertainment & Media Group said in a statement. It is not the first time a relative of an English Premier League player has been abducted in Nigeria after former Everton defender Joseph Yobo's brother was kidnapped in 2008.

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