International Football
Yakubu Aiyegbeni recalls World Cup memories; ‘Football Unites the World’, he declares
Even in retirement, Yakubu Aiyegbeni remains one of the iconic footballers from Nigeria. He narrowly missed out in the final selection for the 2002 World Cup.
That could have been his first appearance in competition that was the first to be co-hosted. He had to wait for eight years before he made his only World Cup attendance with the Super Eagles.
Again, it was a milestone edition, the first and the only one held so far in Africa. Even though his hurstling and burstling were acknowledged by the iconic Diego Maradona who was the coach of Argentina, his miss of a possible goal against South Korea in Nigeria’s last group match left both himself and Nigerian football followers devarstated.
With the 2022 edition of the World Cup just days away, Ayegbeni spoke with APO, a Pan African Communication Consultancy firm.
Excerpts…
You were born in a FIFA World Cup year. What are your first memories of the tournament?
Yakubu Aiyegbeni:
“My first memory is when I watched ex-players at the 1994 World Cup. You know, I was quite little, and it gave me back the memories. It’s a tournament where everyone wants to be, everyone wants to play. As a sportsman, you want to be at the World Cup. Growing up, watching Daniel Amokachi, Augustine Jay-Jay Okocha and Nwankwo Kanu, players like this, I always said to myself “I want to be part of that, to be a player and play at the World Cup.” You know, it’s my motivation.
“As a player, you want to play at the World Cup. It’s a big stage, a tournament everyone is looking up to. Everyone around the world is going to be watching. For me, to watch those guys and also play for the Nigerian national team, and also to be at a World Cup, is an honour. It’s like a dream come true.”
Can you cast your mind back to how you followed FIFA World Cup USA ‘94?
“USA ‘94 was quite late on where I was. I remember it all growing up, and we didn’t have lights that day, so we had to go to another street. It was a ten-minute walk, and it was quite late in the morning because of the time difference back then. So, everyone was tired. We would go back home late because of the time difference for the game. Watching Nigeria play at USA ‘94 was like an honour for us.
“Everyone was buzzing. It brings back memories. Football brings people together. Even when you’re struggling in life, once you see them playing football, you see football on TV, you want to watch and to be there at the World Cup…
“The World Cup is a big stage. Everyone, all over the world, is watching. It’s an honour to even watch these guys playing at the FIFA World Cup. For me, to be part of it as well, to play, years later is an honour. It’s a dream for every player to play at the World Cup. Where I grew up is like a community. We didn’t have lights. We had to trek all the way, ten minutes, to watch that game, but it’s a great feeling.”
How did those players – the likes of Amokachi, Emmanuel Amunike, Samson Siasia, and Peter Rufai – convince you that you could, one day, represent your country at the World Cup?
“I never met them before. I always saw them on TV. When I saw them on TV, it was a motivation for me.
“Growing up, watching Amokachi… Amokachi was one of my idols back then in Nigeria, someone I was looking up to. People think we play similar football, the way we fight our way, and we try to bully our way into the game. People always talk about us playing the same football.
“Amokachi was a mentor. Watching him, I wanted to be like this guy. So, it’s an honour to be there at the World Cup, watching this guy. It’s a big motivation for me.”
Can you talk us through the emotions and experiences you felt when you finally graced the World Cup stage in national colours for the first time?
“I was unlucky. When I say I was unlucky, I mean because I was supposed to be at the Japan/South Korea World Cup in 2002.
I didn’t make the team, then I made the team in South Africa, for the World Cup in 2010. It was like a dream come true. This is what I’d been dreaming of all my life. I wanted to play at the World Cup. To be part of the Nigeria team that went to South Africa in 2010, to play against one of the best players in the world – I played against Lionel Messi, you know.
“I saw Maradona on the TV, and then to see him in person, you know, I was smiling. I got a picture very close to Maradona when I tried to take the ball to throw, and it went in.
“He touched me when I shook his hand. It’s like a big dream, playing against one of the best players from all over the world, and, all over the world, people are watching. You want to show people around the world that you’re really, really good. For me, to be part of the Nigeria team that went to the World Cup in South Africa, was a dream come true for me.
When the first FIFA World Cup took place on the African continent, what did that mean to Africans? And how important was that for all Africans?
“It means a lot. It was the first African country to host the FIFA World Cup. Everyone was so happy.
“And for me as well, to be part of the team that played in the first African country that hosted the World Cup in Africa, to be there and to play, was an honour.
“It’s like a dream come true for everyone. Everyone was so buzzing when we heard that South Africa would be hosting the World Cup, and we were looking forward to the tournament, to the World Cup, to playing, and to being there.
“We didn’t go through to the second round, and we felt disappointed. But for me, it was an honour to be part of the team that went to the World Cup. It’s every player’s dream to play at the World Cup; it’s a big tournament all around the world.
“This is what you dream of, this is what you play football for, and this is what you want to do. You want to play on the big stage where everyone can watch you play, and you can show your quality. It was a great honour.”
How is the FIFA World Cup breaking down barriers between cultures and improving understanding between people from all over the world?
“It brings people together. We talk about so many crises all over the world. When it comes to the FIFA World Cup, people don’t think about what’s going on anymore. Everyone is thinking about: “Who is playing today? What time is the game? We want to watch the FIFA World Cup, we want to watch football.” Football brings people together.
“Forget about what situation you have been in life, once it comes to football, everyone wants to be playing, everyone wants to watch, everyone wants to see the best players, and everyone wants to see who is better. It brings people, it brings countries, friends, families, and everyone together.”
Why is it important to enshrine football as part of our education?
“It is really important. It really brings everyone together. I’ve been to Tonga, and when you look at the kids, the young girls and young boys, you see how happy they are. Even if it’s just for two minutes or one hour, they enjoy it.
“We had a great time there. You see that everyone wants to be there. They want to play. Some of them don’t have shoes, but they enjoy football. It brings back the same memories for me: growing up without shoes when playing football in my city. In my city, when you see kids like this, you put a game together, and you educate them as well: “If you want to play football, then you also need to go to school.”
FIFA has taken a step to moderate social media channels and filter out hate speech. How can that measure positively impact the players in Qatar?
“I think we need to speak more about this now, especially social media. We need to try to educate the younger ones – not only the young ones but the older ones too – everyone needs to be educated about what is right and what is not good.
“We have to learn how to be vocal a little bit to see this outside. And I think when we come together, we can change this. It’s not going to be easy, but we will keep trying.”
The ‘Finalissima’ match between Spain and Argentina that was scheduled to be held in Qatar has been cancelled due to the conflict in the Middle East, while the South American side rejected multiple alternatives, UEFA said on Sunday.
The U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran have affected countries throughout the Gulf, disrupting travel in some of the world’s busiest transit hubs and forcing several sporting events to be cancelled due to safety concerns.
The contest between European champions Spain and Copa America winners Argentina was scheduled for March 27 at Doha’s Lusail Stadium, where fans would have had the opportunity to watch Lionel Messi go head-to-head with Lamine Yamal.
UEFA said they held discussions with the organising authorities in Qatar and concluded that the match could not take place due to the “current political situation” in the region.
“It is a source of great disappointment to UEFA and the organisers that circumstances and timing have denied the teams of the chance to compete for this prestigious prize in Qatar,” UEFA said in a statement.
Qatar’s Local Organising Committee said airspace disruption and travel restrictions led to the cancellation of its Qatar Football Festival, where the host country, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Serbia were also set to play friendly games this month.
The Football Association of Serbia later announced they would play away in Spain on March 27 and host Saudi Arabia four days later.
OTHER ALTERNATIVES REJECTED BY ARGENTINA
The Finalissima’s cancellation was not just about Qatar’s security concerns, however, with UEFA saying they explored other feasible alternatives, but they proved to be ‘unacceptable’ to the Argentinian Football Association (AFA).
UEFA first offered to stage the match at the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid with a 50:50 split of supporters in the stadium.
A second option was to stage the Finalissima over two legs — at the Bernabeu on March 27 and the second leg in Buenos Aires during an international window before the next Euros and Copa America in 2028.
However, the AFA rejected both options. UEFA said Argentina made a counter offer to play the game after the World Cup but Spain had no available dates.
“Ultimately, UEFA sought a commitment from Argentina that, if a neutral venue in Europe could be found, the game could go ahead on 27 March… or on the alternative date of 30 March. This proposal was also rejected,” UEFA added.
SPAIN WERE READY TO PLAY
The Spanish football federation (RFEF) said they had offered Argentina “all possible options” in collaboration with UEFA to ensure the match went ahead, adding that they had the organisational capacity to stage the clash on short notice.
“From the very outset, the Federation has expressed its absolute commitment to ensuring this match goes ahead, as it believes it brings prestige and international reputation at a crucial time in a World Cup year,” the RFEF said.
“Furthermore, it has worked tirelessly to achieve this. Spain was prepared to play, as has always been stated.”
The 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada kicks off on June 11.
The 2022 edition of the Finalissima was held at Wembley Stadium in London where Argentina beat Italy 3-0.
-Reuters
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Soccer chiefs from Europe and South America will hold a final meeting before a Thursday deadline to decide whether and where this month’s “Finalissima” between Spain and Argentina will be played, with London emerging as the leading candidate after doubts over Doha, multiple sources told Reuters on Tuesday.
The match between European champions Spain and Copa America holders Argentina had been scheduled for March 27 at Lusail Stadium in Doha.
However, it has become increasingly unlikely that Qatar will host the fixture after the Qatar Football Association suspended soccer tournaments indefinitely following U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran and retaliatory missiles fired at the Arabian Peninsula.
The Spanish FA (RFEF) has been pushing for a swift resolution, mindful that the March international break is viewed as vital preparation ahead of the June-July World Cup in North America.
“I know that negotiations are underway,” Spain coach Luis de la Fuente told Spanish Public Radio (RNE) on Monday. “The first thing, as a society, is to stop the conflict, but once you are immersed in it and you don’t know how long it will last, the solution would be, as long as you can’t play there, to find another venue as soon as possible.
Wembley Stadium staged the previous edition in 2022, when Argentina beat Italy, but it is set to host England v Uruguay on March 27. London, however, has other stadiums capable of staging the showpiece, leaving the English capital as the most likely alternative should Doha be ruled out, sources confirmed.
ALTERNATIVE OPPONENTS CONSIDERED
While keen to face Argentina and high-profile players such as Lionel Messi, sources told Reuters that Spain had made clear their priority was not to waste the last window of international fixtures before the World Cup and they were already contemplating alternative opponents.
With Spain also due to face Egypt three days later, any change would require agreement between the RFEF and European soccer body UEFA, South American confederation CONMEBOL, global governing body FIFA and the Argentine FA (AFA).
The RFEF, AFA and UEFA did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.
A spokesperson for South American confederation CONMEBOL told Reuters that several meetings between the parties had taken place in recent days but did not confirm Thursday’s deadline or London as the preferred venue.
Madrid was initially proposed by the RFEF but rejected by the AFA, who preferred a neutral venue rather than giving Spain home advantage.
Morocco offered to stage the game, but the RFEF was unwilling to back their Mediterranean neighbours amid tensions behind the scenes over the 2030 World Cup, which Spain, Morocco and Portugal will co-host. Both Spain and Morocco are campaigning to stage the final.
Miami was also considered, with Messi based there at Inter Miami, but Hard Rock Stadium is hosting the Miami Open tennis tournament at the same time.
-Reuters
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International Football
Spain-Argentina ‘Finalissima’ in Qatar at risk amid US, Israel attacks on Iran
The match between Spain and Argentina, tagged “Finalissima” in Doha, is in doubt after the Qatar Football Association suspended soccer tournaments indefinitely following U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran and retaliatory missiles fired at the Arabian Peninsula.
The contest between European Championship winners Spain and Copa America champions Argentina was scheduled for March 27 at Doha’s Lusail Stadium, with potential big-name draws including Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi.
“Qatar Football Association announces the postponement of all tournaments, competitions and matches, effective from today and until further notice,” the association said in a statement on Sunday.
“The new dates for the resumption of competitions will be announced in due course through the Association’s official channels.”
The final call on whether to postpone the game rests with event organisers UEFA and CONMEBOL.
The Bahrain Football Association postponed all its matches until further notice, while the Asian Football Confederation on Sunday announced it was delaying Champions League Elite fixtures in the region.
The Asian Champions League Two, currently at the quarter-final stage, has also been impacted, along with games in the Challenge League.
Countries across the Middle East have been on high alert since Saturday, when the U.S. and Israel launched air strikes against Iran, aimed at diminishing Iran’s military capability.
Iran retaliated by attacking U.S. targets around the region, including in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
On Sunday, Qatar’s interior ministry reported a fire in an industrial zone after debris fell from an intercepted missile.
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