Former Super Eagles striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni has revisited the controversy surrounding his expulsion, alongside Victor Agali and Celestine Babayaro, from Nigeria’s squad at the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia.
The former striker said the trio were unfairly accused of breaching camp rules and were sent home without being given a proper opportunity to explain themselves.
Speaking during an interview with Nigerian sports interviewer and YouTube content creator AY Suga, Aiyegbeni explained that the players had returned to their room after spending some time downstairs when officials questioned their whereabouts.
“We didn’t break the camp,” Aiyegbeni said, maintaining that the decision to remove them from the tournament had already been made before they were summoned to a meeting.
He recalled that he was instructed to pack his belongings and return home. However, shortly afterwards, he saw a television report announcing that he and Agali had been sent back to Nigeria for allegedly violating camp rules.
According to Aiyegbeni, the timing of the report left him shocked because the decision had barely been communicated to them before it became public.
The incident reportedly prompted him to tell officials that he was considering quitting international football. He said officials later visited his home, apologised and convinced him to return to the national team.
Looking back at the episode, Aiyegbeni said he was disappointed that none of his teammates publicly challenged the decision or stood up for the affected players.
He added that, despite the experience, he has moved on from the controversy and considers it part of his journey with the national team.
Aiyegbeni also reflected on his club career and admitted that he believed he could have achieved even more, including playing for Spanish giants Real Madrid.
The former Everton and Middlesbrough forward attributed some of his unrealised ambitions to a lack of people around him who could encourage and push him to reach a higher level.
“I didn’t have people who pushed me to where I am today. I pushed myself to play at that level,” he said.
Aiyegbeni added that having someone consistently challenge and motivate him could have helped him fulfil his ambitions.
“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,” he said.
The striker enjoyed a distinguished career in England, where he represented clubs including Portsmouth, Middlesbrough and Everton. He became one of Nigeria’s leading goalscorers in the Premier League and also featured for the Super Eagles at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
On his international career, Aiyegbeni described representing Nigeria as a privilege and one of the most important moments of his football journey.
“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.
Aiyegbeni scored 21 goals for Nigeria and remains one of the country’s most prominent strikers of his generation.
