Yakubu Aiyegbeni: Unforgiven; Yet One of the Greatest Nigerian strikers
As Yakubu Aiyegbeni turns 41 today [ 22/11/2023], we take a look back at his illustrious career; that unforgiven miss at the 2010 world cup and his place as one of the greatest Nigerian strikers.
THE ‘UNFORGIVEN’ MISS
In football , some moments stick and are irreversible. For Yakubu Aiyegbeni, that is the story of his miss at the 2010 FIFA World Cup match between Nigeria vs South Korea.
Nigerian football fans are still stuck on Yakubu’s miss in that match.
Even 13-years after, it is common-place to hear people scream or tag players who miss goals ‘ YAKUBU AIYEGBENI’.
That unforgiven miss has stuck and many who never got opportunity to see him play may think he was a terrible striker – wrong – Yakubu Aiyegbeni was only unlucky in that crazy moment in South Africa.
It was the last Group B match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Yakubu started as the Super Eagles center forward against South Korea at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria needed to defeat South Korea in order to qualify for the round of 16 after losing 1-0 to Argentina and 2-1 to Greece.
A golden chance fell at Yakubu’s feet when midfielder Yusuf Ayila raced into the penalty area, before sending a low cross that found its way through the South Korean defense.
With the goal at his mercy, Yakubu Aiyegbeni kicked the ball wide of the left post just four yards from the open goal.
That miss plus the fact that Nigeria bowed out of the tournament following a 2-2 result hurt Nigerians deeply and is still remembered around football circles in the country.
ONE OF THE GREATEST NIGERIAN STRIKERS
That away memories of that ‘unforgiven’ miss, Yakubu Aiyegbeni remains one of the greatest goalscorers in Nigerian football history.
Everywhere he went – he was scoring goals.
With 21-goals in 57-appearances, Yakubu Aiyegbeni ranks third on the Super Eagles all-time goalscorers chart,
Only the Late Rashidi Yekini [37 goals] and Segun Odegbami [23 goals] have scored more goals than Yak, reason he ranks among the greatest.
Also, his return in club football is umatched.
In 540 club career games, Yakubu scored 217 goals, 95 of this in the world’s most followed football league, the English Premier League for clubs like Everton, Portsmouth and Middlesbrough.
To date, no Nigerian striker has scored more goals in the top-football leagues than Yakubu Aiyegbeni.
He called time on his active football career on April 5, 2017.
So today on Sports Care with Caretaker, we celebrate the 41st birthday of one of Nigeria’s greatest strikers – Yakubu Aiyegbeni.
