Connect with us

Uncategorized

AFTER 35TH BIRTHDAY PARTY, YAKUBU AIYEGBENI HANGS BOOT, SPECULATED TO BE EYEING BOXING CAREER

blank

Published

on

BY BOLAJI OKUNOLA.

 

Former Super Eagles of Nigeria striker and all-time third highest goal scorer, Yakubu Aiyegbeni has hung his boots this Wednesday, the day he clocks 35. He last featured for Nigeria in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Rwanda in Kigali on February 29, 2012. The match ended goalless.

In an international career that spanned 12 years since he came in as a substitute for Tijani Babangida in a 4-0 defeat of Eritrea on April 22, 200 in a World Cup qualifying duel in Lagos, Aiyegbeni went on to be capped 51 times for Nigeria and scored 21 goals.

His last goal was against Korea Republic in Durban during the 2010 World Cup. It was from a penalty spot which was converted minutes after missing what is often regarded as the worst missed goal in a World Cup encounter.

Advertisement

blank

Oh what a miss! A chance for  Nigeria to level up in the 63rd minute of a World Cup match with Korea Republic. With the Korean goalkeeper completely helpless, Aiyegbeni surprisingly missed the empty net from less than three metres.

 

After a successful spell with Everton and later Middlesbrough in the English league, Yakubu had been without a club since leaving Coventry following a brief and unsuccessful spell with the League One club.

He reportedly picked up a hamstring injury late last season and saw his contract mutually terminated after featuring just twice. The Nigerian bulky striker has had spells with numerous clubs since leaving the shores of Nigeria after playing for Okomu Oil and later Julius Berger of Lagos.

His long spell abroad saw him playing for Portsmouth, Leicester, Blackburn, Reading and had a loan spell with the Israeli side, Maccabi Haifa.blank

                  Aiyegbeni in the boxing gymn with Anthony Joshua…A new career in the offing?

Advertisement

Last month, Yakubu was pictured training in the gym with world heavyweight champion boxer Anthony Joshua at the Finchley and District Amateur Boxing Club, sparking speculations he might take to boxing, considering his built.

HIS 21 GOALS FOR NIGERIA

 

 

  • June 16, 2001 (ACNQ- Windhoek) Namibia 0-2 Nigeria – I goal

 

 

Advertisement
  • July 1, 2001 (WCQ Omdurman) Sudan 0-4 Nigeria – 2 goals

 

  • February 9, 2002 (ACN Mopti) Mali 0-1 Nigeria – 1 goal

 

  • May 30, 2003 (LG CUP- Abuja) Nigeria 3-1 Ghana – 2 goals

 

  • June 1, 2003 (LG CUP- Lagos) Nigeria 3-0 Cameroon – 1 goal

 

 

  • June 7, 2003 (ACNQ- Abuja) Nigeria 4-1 Malawi – 2 goals

 

  • September 5, 2004 (WCQ- Harare) Zimbabwe 0-3 Nigeria –1 goal

 

 

  • 0ctober 9, 2004 (WCQ – Libreville) Gabon1-1 Nigeria – 1 goal

 

 

  • September 2, 2006 (ACNQ-Abuja) Nigeria 2-0 Niger – 1 goal

 

 

 

Advertisement
  • October 8, 2006. (ACNQ- Maseru) Lesotho 0-1 Nigeria – 1 goal

 

 

  • June 17, 2007 (ACNQ – Niamey) Niger 1-3 Nigeria – 1 goal

 

  • January 29, 2008 (ACN Sekondi) Benin 0-2 Nigeria – 1 goal

 

  • February 3, 2008 (ACN Accra) Ghana 2-1 Nigeria – 1 goal

 

  • June 21, 2008 (WCQ- Abuja) Nigeria 2-0 Equatorial Guinea – 1 goal

 

  • November 14, 2009 (WCQ Nairobi) Kenya 2-3 Nigeria 1 -goal

 

  • January 16, 2010 (ACN- Benguela) Benin 0-1 Nigeria – 1 goal

 

  • June 22, 2010 (WC- South Africa) Nigeria 2-2 South Korea – 1 goal

 

 

 

 

 

Advertisement

Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Uncategorized

Ahead of Nigeria-Libya match: Some kidnapped journalists regain freedom

blank

Published

on

blank

An unspecified number of Nigerian journalists travelling to Uyo for Friday’s Nigeria versus Libya’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match have been rescued.

This is contained in a press release by the Sports Writers’ Association of Nigeria (SWAN) on Thursday. The association commended the Nigerian security forces for their efforts in the rescue operation.
From the press release, it was gathered that the media men were abducted within the  Anambra and Imo states axis.

”SWAN therefore commends the security operatives, particularly the Nigerian Army and Police for their prompt action which ensured that up to six of the held Sports Journalists regained their freedom with efforts to get the remaining person freed”, reads the SWAN statement.

Continue Reading

Uncategorized

Klopp becomes Red Bull global soccer chief in first job after Liverpool

blank

Published

on

blank
Liverpool v Wolverhampton Wanderers - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - May 19, 2024 Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp reacts as he gives a speech after his last match as Liverpool manager REUTERS/Phil Noble/File Photo

German coach Juergen Klopp has been appointed head of global soccer for Red Bull, owners of several clubs including RB Leipzig and New York Red Bulls, the company said on Wednesday, in his first job since leaving Liverpool earlier this year.

Klopp, who ended his successful nine-year stint with Liverpool at the end of last season, will be starting on January 1, 2025.

“After almost 25 years on the sideline, I could not be more excited to get involved in a project like this,” Klopp, who also coached Mainz 05 and Borussia Dortmund, said in a statement.

“The role may have changed but my passion for football and the people who make the game what it is has not.”

The 57-year-old joined Liverpool in October 2015 and won the Champions League, their first English League title since 1990, the Club World Cup, FA Cup, League Cup and Super Cup, as well as the Community Shield during his time in charge.

Advertisement

Klopp, who also led Dortmund to two Bundesliga titles, a German Cup and a Champions League final in 2013, had announced in January he would be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season.

Klopp will not be involved in the day-to-day operations of the Red Bull-owned clubs in Germany, United States, Brazil and Austria, the company said.

“He will provide strategic vision, supporting individual sporting directors in advancing the Red Bull philosophy,” Red Bull said.

Klopp will also support the organisation’s global scouting operation, and contribute to the training and development of coaches.

“I see my role primarily as a mentor for the coaches and management of the Red Bull clubs but ultimately I am one part of an organisation that is unique, innovative and forward looking. As I said, this could not excite me more,” Klopp said.

Advertisement

Some German media reported his Red Bull contract included an exit clause for the post of Germany national team coach.

Klopp has long been linked to that job, especially after his successful stint at Liverpool and with Germany struggling to make an impact on the international stage in the past decade.

-Reuters

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Uncategorized

Cape Verdean, Delgado Rocha, to take charge of Libya, Nigeria battle in Benina

blank

Published

on

blank
Referee Delgado Santos Rocha Lenine of Cape Verde

The Confederation of African Football has appointed Delgado Santos Rocha Lenine, from Cape Verde, as referee for Tuesday’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match between the Super Eagles and the Mediterranean Knights of Libya at the Martyrs of Benina Stadium in Benina, close to Benghazi.

He will be assisted by compatriots Djêry Gomes Lopes (assistant referee 1) and Jorge Santos Fonseca Aritson (assistant referee 2), with Hamidou Diero from Burkina Faso as fourth official.

Amir Abdi Hassan from Somalia will be in the role of commissioner, with Malian Dramane Dante as referee assessor and Rachid Medjiba from Algeria as security officer.

Tuesday’s encounter, which is at the back-end of a double header between both nations, will kick off at 9pm Libya time (8pm Nigeria time).  

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Most Viewed