Super Eagles’ striker, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, has explained his outrageous goal miss when Nigeria played The South Koreans at the 2010 FIFA World Cup hosted by South Africa.
The Blackburn Rovers FC striker missed an open net in the second half of the football match played at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban after being supplied with a superb low cross from Ayila Yusuf.
His unbelievable miss drew condemnation from majority, if not all of Nigeria’s football fans.
Yakubu says ‘its normal’ to miss goals in matches.
“It’s normal when you play for the national team as a football player. You get chances and miss some. You get criticism both from your teammates at your club and at the national team. It’s normal,” Yakubu explained.
‘Yak’ has not played for the Super Eagles since Nigeria’s early exit from the 2010 World Cup.
He was also completely ignored by ex-Eagles coach, Samson Siasia.
Yakubu, 29, says he no longer feels bad about the miss as he has very determined to perform better for the national side in upcoming matches.
“I don’t feel bad anymore. It gives me the determination to do more and hopefully, I can perform better in the future,” he said.
The striker was much vilified for his miss by majority of the Nigerian public who asked for him to be blacklisted from the national team but the Yak says his relationship with the fans is now fine.
“I don’t have any problems with the public. When you miss chances, it’s only normal that they criticize you so I have no problems with them,” he explained.
The Blackburn Rovers’ man is pleased to be back in the fold after a 16-month international absence.
“Of course, I am happy to be back. I didn’t get the chance to play for the team since the last world cup and I am pleased to be back in the national team,” he said.
Yakubu has scored 21 goals in 57 matches for Nigeria.
Yak, is a formidable striker anytime. am happy he’s back in the national team. every body has he’s own good and bad times, up and lowly times. i wish to see more of Yakubu goals both at international and club levels
We make mistakes in one way or the other in our lives and that is understandable but to say it was normal is outrageous.
Life is full of ups & down, don’t let no 1 bring down. Keep ur head up, be ursef, be no body cos no 1 is going to be you but you. Welcome back yakubu!!!
Reflecting back on the horrible ‘miss’ by Yak, one may not be inclined to call it a ‘normal’ thing. Ask Hans the Adventurer (Deutch),Dr.Socrates (Brasil), and Asamoah Gyan,(Ghana) they would humbly tell you it is abnormal. It is almost becoming a ‘jinx’ in the life of Gyan and I pray your career will cease to cause irreparable losses. Please engage a PRO to help you in media matters. Thank you.
Honestly people that say it was normal did not see that miss. It is not and cannot be normal. It was easier to score that goal.
1 feet human being can score dat goal wot a miss
That should have been the easiest goal ever scored,but am glad is back to the team because is one the best strikers we ever had.