Former Super Eagles and Chelsea midfielder, John Mikel Obi, has hit out at Senegalese striker, Nicolas Jackson, after he was sent off against Flamengo at the FIFA Club World Cup.

Enzo Maresca's side took the lead inside 13 minutes at the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, but a second-half slip saw Chelsea's lead collapse within three minutes.

Their offside trap was poor, allowing Bruno Henrique and Danilo to come off the bench to score in the 62nd and 65th minutes.

🚨🚨 NICOLAS JACKSON RED CARD! 🟥pic.twitter.com/MyFzbhF0JZ

— Tekkers Foot (@tekkersfoot) June 20, 2025

Liam Delap started up front for Chelsea, but came off for Nicolas Jackson in the 64th minute. Four minutes later, Jackson was sent off after throwing his studs into the shin of a Flamengo defender, marking his 24th birthday in an uninspiring fashion.

The referee, Ivan Barton, was right on the spot to give Jackson his marching orders without conversing with the Video Assistant Referee.

Mikel was a part of the Chelsea team that lost the 2012 FIFA Club World Cup final to Corinthians. The ex-Super Eagles captain has been an obvious critic of Jackson's profligacy in front of goal.

What Mikel Obi said about Nicolas Jackson

Now on punditry duties with DAZN, the one-time UEFA Champions League winner didn't hold back after Jackson's red card saw Chelsea reduced to ten men.

“Unbelievable. Stupid, stupid, stupid mistake,” the 38-year-old said in quotes revealed by Sky Sports.

“I don't know what's going through his head. You come into the game, you're 2-1 down, your team needs you, and you do that.

“He did it in the important Premier League game against Newcastle, when we needed to win to qualify for the Champions League places, and he has done it again. You can't keep making mistakes.”

“I don't care what his frustration is. Chelsea is a massive football club, and it's about competition.

“If you are angry, if you are p****d off that Delap is coming to the club and he is going to be your competition, you have to embrace it.

“If you are a big player, you embrace it. Jackson needs to have a look at himself and think about where he wants his Chelsea career to go from here.

“The manager has brought in a striker, so now if the manager starts to doubt him, if he keeps making mistakes and letting his team-mates and the club down, then it is time for Delap to start the games.

“The manager has a decision to make now,” Mikel continued.