Victor Moses Embraces Chelsea Lagos Fan Event Selection Amid John Obi Mikel and Babayaro Debate

Victor Moses has publicly welcomed his selection to front Chelsea’s first-ever “The Famous CFC” fan event in Lagos, Nigeria, describing the invitation as a source of genuine pride despite a simmering debate among Nigerian supporters over who the club should have chosen.

Chelsea’s decision to bring the event to Nigeria in May 2026 was initially greeted with widespread enthusiasm, but attention quickly turned to the absence of John Obi Mikel from the guest list. Many supporters took to social media to question why Mikel — widely regarded as Chelsea’s most decorated Nigerian alumnus — was not selected to represent the club at the weekend-long programme, which features live match screenings and fan engagement activities.

Celestine Babayaro, the former Nigeria international who made over 100 appearances for Chelsea between 1997 and 2005, was similarly absent from the event’s lineup, prompting further discussion about the criteria behind the club’s selection process.

Instead, Chelsea opted to centre the event around Moses, the winger who played a prominent role in Antonio Conte’s 2016/17 Premier League title-winning squad, operating as a first-choice right wing-back. The club has not publicly detailed the rationale behind Moses’ selection over other Nigerian former players.

During a Q&A session held ahead of the event, Moses was directly asked about the decision to choose him over Mikel and Babayaro. The 35-year-old responded with evident enthusiasm, sidestepping the controversy and focusing instead on what the occasion meant to him personally.

“I’m happy to be here. When I got the call, that I was coming here [Nigeria], I said YES,” Moses stated. He characterised the invitation as a “pleasure” and added, “I was looking forward to it to be honest with you, and I’m very happy to be here.”

Moses’ own CV provides context for Chelsea’s choice. Beyond his Premier League title in west London, the former winger represented Nigeria at two FIFA World Cups — Brazil 2014 and Russia 2018 — and was part of the Super Eagles squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2013. He retired from international football in 2019 having earned 37 caps and scoring 12 goals for Nigeria.

Mikel, by contrast, spent eleven seasons at Stamford Bridge between 2006 and 2017, winning two Premier League titles, the FA Cup, the League Cup, the UEFA Champions League in 2012, and the UEFA Europa League in 2013, making him statistically Chelsea’s most trophy-laden Nigerian player. Babayaro, meanwhile, was among the earliest Nigerian footballers to represent the club at the highest level.

Notwithstanding the debate over the guest list, Moses’ participation ensures the Lagos event carries recognisable star power. The “Famous CFC” activation forms part of Chelsea’s broader effort to deepen engagement with their fanbase across Africa, a market the club and other Premier League sides have increasingly targeted through regional events and commercial partnerships.

The online debate over the selection is unlikely to be resolved by Chelsea in the near term, with the club showing no indication it intends to address the criticism publicly. Moses, for his part, appears focused solely on the occasion itself.