Aiyegbeni breaks silence on 2004 AFCON controversy

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A former Super Eagles striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni has broken his silence on the controversy that saw him, Victor Agali and Celestine Babayaro sent home from Nigeria’s squad during the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia.

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Yakubu said the players were wrongly accused of breaking camp rules and were not given an opportunity to defend themselves before being ordered to leave the tournament.

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According to him, he, Agali and Babayaro had returned to their room after spending time downstairs when officials later questioned their whereabouts.

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In an interview with Nigerian sports interviewer and YouTube content creator AY Suga, monitored by PUNCH Online on Wednesday, Yakubu said, “We didn’t break the camp,” insisting that the decision to send them home had already been taken before they were called to a meeting.

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He recalled returning to his room after being told to pack his belongings, only to see a television report announcing that he and Agali had been sent home for allegedly breaking camp rules.

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Yakubu said the development shocked him because the media report appeared almost immediately after officials informed them of the decision.

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He subsequently told the authorities that he would quit international football, although officials later visited his home to apologise and persuaded him to return to the Super Eagles.

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Looking back, Yakubu said he was particularly disappointed that none of his teammates stood up for the affected players or challenged the decision.

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The former striker said the incident had become part of his experience with the national team and that he had since moved on from it.

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The controversy surrounding the trio’s departure from the 2004 AFCON has remained a subject of discussion in Nigerian football, with contemporary reports also recording that Yakubu, Agali and Babayaro were sent home for alleged indiscipline.

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Yakubu also reflected on his career, saying he believed he could have reached an even higher level and played for Spanish giants Real Madrid.

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He said he did not have enough people around him to push him towards achieving his full potential.

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“I didn’t have people who pushed me to where I am today. I pushed myself to play at that level,” he said.

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The former Everton and Middlesbrough striker added that having someone to guide and encourage him could have helped him achieve more.

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“I wish I had someone behind me who could say, ‘You can do more’ and push yourself to another level. I should have played for Real Madrid,” Yakubu said.

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Yakubu enjoyed a successful career in England, featuring for clubs including Portsmouth, Middlesbrough and Everton.

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He also became one of Nigeria’s most prolific goalscorers in the Premier League and represented the Super Eagles at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

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Reflecting on his international career, Yakubu described playing for Nigeria as a blessing and said representing the country was one of the highlights of his career.

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“For me, playing for Nigeria is special. Growing up watching these big guys and then playing with them, for me to put on that shirt is a blessing,” he said.

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Yakubu scored 21 goals for Nigeria and remains one of the country’s notable strikers of his generation.

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