Former Super Eagles forward, Yakubu Ayegbeni has launched a scathing criticism of Nigeria’s senior men’s national team following their failure to qualify for the FIFA World Cup.
Ayegbeni questioned the attitude of the current strikers, the tactical approach under head coach Eric Chelle, and persistent financial mismanagement in Nigerian football.
“Other Strikers are Just Happy to Wear the Jersey” – Ayegbeni
Yakubu, one of Nigeria’s most prolific forwards, said the team lacked hunger and competitiveness, stressing that only Victor Osimhen currently shows the required intensity.
“When you see the line up, it’s a red flag already, we have four strikers but only one that plays like a madman, gives his best.”
“If you see the aggression on the field of play, if you don’t pass the ball to him when you are meant to, he will fight. And that’s Victor Osimhen.”
“The other ones that are there, they are just happy to wear the Nigerian jersey and say they are national team players.”
Comparing the current squad to his era, he said the level of competition has dropped.
“Back in our days, you have me, Obafemi Martins, Julius Aghahowa, Victor Agali. Everyone wanted to play.”
“When I didn’t play, I didn’t like it… these ones, even when they didn’t play, they have accepted that it’s Victor already, he is number one.”
“If Osimhen doesn’t play, we are not heading anywhere”
The ex-international also shared his concern over the overreliance on Victor Osimhen.
“When they are brought in, no impact. At the end, if Osimhen doesn’t play, we are not heading anywhere. Why do you now come to the national team?”
He referenced the World Cup playoff collapse against DR Congo;
“Immediately Osimhen left, it was finished. If you look at the second half and extra time, DR Congo were by far the better side. They passed the ball better than us.”
“I won’t fly all the way to sit on the bench” – Ayegbeni
The former Portsmouth and Everton striker also recounted his own insistence on fighting for a place during his playing days.
“I even had an issue with Augustine Eguaveon back then. I told him, look, I deserve to play… I won’t fly all the way to sit on the bench.”
“Because some people tell you not to call me, you now said I have to come, then you put me on the bench. It feels you are doing me a favour.”
He noted that younger players today lack that competitive fire.
“We don’t have a game plan” – Ayegbeni Faults Coach Eric Chelle
Yakubu Ayegbeni also directed criticism at head coach Eric Chelle, accusing him of lacking tactical clarity.
“We don’t have a game plan. These boys were just playing their football. When Osimhen was on the pitch, we were kicking it long… But our coach didn’t solve the problem.”
He questioned Chelle’s key substitutions:
“If you see the players he took out, (Ademola Lookman, Alex Iwobi and Samuel Chukwueze) we defended all through, making for them to make one mistake so we score, but those guys were clever.”
Yakubu warned that Nigeria struggles against technically strong teams:
“We were lucky against Gabon. Aubameyang is 36, but when we play a better team, we struggle.”
“Financial Crisis Not New, We fought for bonuses too”
In a separate revelation, Yakubu shared personal experiences with the long-running financial issues in the Super Eagles.
“Before I entered the national team, the money problem was already there. When I was playing, we fought for so many things, including bonuses and allowances.”
He narrated a dramatic moment from the 2000 Olympics:
“I grabbed Bright Igbinadolor’s waist at the airport and told him, you must pay me my ticket money… Eventually, we got the 1,200 back then.”
Yakubu said players of his era were not as lenient, however, he added that not everyone in the NFF is corrupt.
“When you had players like Sunday Oliseh and Nwankwo Kanu, no chance. They would go on strike. Before a game, if we didn’t get our ticket money or daily allowances, we wouldn’t play.”
“There are very good people in the NFF… same way there are bad ones.”
Yakubu Ayegbeni Career Highlights
Yakubu scored 95 Premier League goals, the second-highest by any African at the time, and represented Nigeria in:
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2000 Olympics
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AFCON 2002, 2004, 2010
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2010 FIFA World Cup
He earned 58 caps and scored 21 international goals, winning bronze in every AFCON he participated in.
