- Aiyegbeni has revisited his controversial expulsion from Nigeria’s 2004 AFCON squad
- He said he, Victor Agali and Celestine Babayaro were unfairly accused of breaking camp rules
- The former striker also admitted he wished he had played for Real Madrid
Former Super Eagles striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni has spoken again about his controversial expulsion from Nigeria’s squad at the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia, insisting that he, Victor Agali and Celestine Babayaro were unfairly punished.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that Aiyegbeni said the three players were accused of violating team rules and sent home without being given adequate opportunity to explain what had happened.
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Speaking in an interview with Nigerian sports interviewer and YouTube creator AY Suga, the former striker recalled that the players had returned to their room after spending time downstairs when officials questioned their whereabouts.
Aiyegbeni insisted that they had not broken camp and suggested that the decision to dismiss them had already been taken before they were called to a meeting.
He said he was ordered to pack his belongings and return to Nigeria. However, shortly afterwards, he saw a television report stating that he and Agali had been expelled from the tournament for allegedly breaching camp regulations.
The former striker said he was stunned by the development because the decision had become public almost immediately after it was communicated to them.
The incident, according to Aiyegbeni, made him consider ending his international career. He recalled that officials later visited him at home, apologised and persuaded him to return to the national team.
Reflecting on the episode years later, Aiyegbeni said he was disappointed that his teammates did not openly defend him and the other players involved.
Despite his grievances over the incident, he said he had moved beyond the controversy and regarded it as part of his experience with the Super Eagles.
Aiyegbeni also spoke about his club career, admitting that he believed he had the ability to reach an even higher level and play for a club such as Real Madrid.
He attributed some of his unfulfilled ambitions to the absence of people around him who could consistently challenge him to improve.
The former Everton and Middlesbrough forward said he largely motivated himself throughout his career and believed stronger guidance and encouragement could have helped him achieve more.
Aiyegbeni enjoyed a successful career in England, playing for clubs including Portsmouth, Middlesbrough and Everton. He became one of Nigeria’s notable Premier League scorers and represented the country at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
He described playing for Nigeria as one of the greatest privileges of his football career, recalling how significant it was to wear the national team shirt after growing up watching Nigerian football stars.
Aiyegbeni scored 21 goals for Nigeria and remains one of the country’s recognised strikers of his generation.
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