After a 12-year struggle to make it onto the winners’ podium, Joseph Yobo was finally able to savour a more appealing moment on the international stage when Nigeria won the 29th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa on February 10.
Yobo is the most capped Nigerian footballer with 93 appearances for the Super Eagles. He has a chance to reach his century during the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. Like Stephen Keshi, he won the Africa Cup of Nations as captain at 32. But unlike Nwankwo Kanu, with whom he boasts a record six-time appearance at the continental showpiece, Yobo has a gold medal for his efforts.
By leading the Super Eagles to their third African title, he has joined the elite group of Christian Chukwu, Stephen Keshi and Nwankwo Kanu, who captained Nigeria to success at major football championships. The group also includes Florence Omagbemi, Kikelomo Ajayi and Precious Dede, who led the Super Falcons to African Women’s Championship titles at various periods.
Chukwu skippered the Green (Super) Eagles to the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations triumph on home soil while Keshi captained the victorious team at the 1994 edition in Tunisia. On the other hand, Kanu captained the U-23 team to capture gold in the football event of the Atlanta ’96 Olympic Games. Thus Nigeria made Olympic football history by becoming the first African and non-European and South American team to win the gold medal.
Little wonder Yobo fought back tears while celebrating the cup win with his colleagues, as he did when he won the first trophy of his career (Turkish Super Lig) with Fenerbahce two years ago.
“This is a massive achievement for my career,” Yobo said.
“It’s a dream come true. I’ve been around for 12 years; this is my sixth Nations Cup appearance.
“I said it earlier that it was going to be my last Nations Cup because it’s time to give my place to someone else. I thank God for giving me this victory in my final appearance. I think I can now retire from the team with the Nations Cup with sweet memories.
“I was praying to God before coming to this tournament that it’s going to be my last and God gave me the ultimate victory. I’m very delighted. I feel so blessed.”
Until a loan move from Everton helped him win the league with Fenerbahce, the versatile well-travelled player had not won a trophy in his 16-year professional career, which started at Belgian side Standard Liege in 1997. Interestingly, Yobo scored the match winner in Fenerbahce’s 4-2 victory over Sivasspor on May 22, 2011.
With the exception of a few fans who knew him when was playing for an amateur club in Port Harcourt between 1996 and 1997, Yobo was largely unknown in the country.
He was one of the unsung players named by coach Tunde Disu in the Flying Eagles squad for the Nigeria ’99 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
And when he replaced one of the best players of the tournament Julius Aghahowa in the 79th minute of Nigeria’s opening game with Costa Rica at the National Stadium, Lagos, on April 3, 1999 in the striking position, Yobo was just another player. He went ahead to feature in the 1-1 draw against the Central Americans; in the 2-0 thrashing of Germany; 2-1 defeat by Paraguay in the group stage; 5-3 (penalty shootout) victory over Ireland in the second round and in the 3-1 defeat by Mali which sent Nigeria out of the competition in Enugu.
Apart from Aghahowa, other members of the Nigeria ‘99 failed Flying Eagles were ignored by Dutchman Bonfrere Jo, who was saddled with the Ghana-Nigeria 2000 Africa Cup of Nations assignment.
However, Yobo, who played as a midfielder for French giants Olympic Marseille from 2001 and 2002, got his chance in a Mali 2002 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying encounter against the Chipolopolo of Zambia on May 24, 2001.
And today he is the only member of the 1999 Flying Eagles and Mali 2002 Africa Cup of Nations squads still playing competitive football today.
Although he copped flak from some unimpressed fans and a section of the media, Yobo became a first team player when he represented Nigeria at the Mali 2002 Africa Cup of Nations, Korea/Japan 2002 World Cup (his first), Tunisia 2004 Africa Cup of Nations, Egypt 2006 Africa Cup of Nations, Ghana 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, Angola 2010 Africa Cup of Nations and South Africa 2010 World Cup.
After achieving his dream of winning a major title with the Eagles, Yobo now has his sights set on making third time appearance at the Brazil 2014 World Cup finals.
The former Everton defender, who turns 33 in September, said, “I hope to play in Confederation Cup and World Cup, which is just a year from now and after then, I will say goodbye to the national team and go back to my club and wait for retirement at the expiration of my contract.”
Ironically, Yobo has come under intense criticism from some Nigerians for refusing to call it quits after realising his dream to win the Africa Cup of Nations when the Spain duo of Iker Casilas and Xavi, Brazil’s Ronaldinho and England’s Ashley Cole are under pressure to play for their countries at the World Cup, despite they are of the same age.
However, his decision to brush aside calls for him to quit the national team has received the support of former internationals Thompson Oliha, Emeka Ezeugo and Tunde Disu.
Oliha said, “I feel Yobo still has a lot to offer the national team, and if Keshi thinks the same way, he should be allowed to continue playing for the country.
“He has played at two World Cups, and his experience cannot be wished away. We should not look at his age, but his form and fitness.”
Disu frowned upon calls for Yobo to retire from the national team, saying Keshi should allowed to make his decision on the Mali 2002, Tunisia 2004, Egypt 2006 and Angola 2010 bronze medallist.
“I’m happy that Yobo finally won the Africa Cup of Nations as captain,” Disu said.
“I’m very happy to have played a role in his rise to the top of his career. I gave him a chance to play for the Flying Eagles. He was a striker then. He was highly disciplined and ready to learn. I’m not surprised that he became the captain of the Super Eagles. I enjoyed working with him.
“I disagree with those asking him to quit the national team because of his age.
“If Seydou Keita, who played at the 1999 U-20 World Cup just like Yobo, is still playing for Mali, why not Yobo?
“Casilas and Xavi, who were members of the team that won the trophy for Spain, are still playing for their country. Again, Ashley Cole and Ronaldinho are still playing for their countries. Yobo is still needed in the national team. We need his experience.”
On his part, Ezeugo called for caution in dispensing with the services of ageing players, including Yobo, from the team.
The versatile ex-national player, who featured for Nigeria at the USA ’94 World Cup said, “It depends on Keshi. If he believes Yobo is still good, he should pick him. If not he should drop him.”
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