EXPERT VIEW ON YAKUBU AIYEGBENI

Yakubu Aiyegbeni started this Nations Cup 2010 in Angola as Nigeria’s top striker, he started on the line-up in the three opening games of the group stage against Egypt, Benin and Mozambique respectively. Yakubu played full game against Egypt (though he largely played nothing except for a cross he made from the right o Obasi and Kalu, which narrowly missed target), was substituted in the Benin and Mozambique games.

Actually, I’m surprised that Nigeria’s coaches keep fielding Yakubu. We could observe and examine Yajubu’s impart in the Super Eagles on all matches he has ever played, but I’ll only talk on his import and impact in the four Super Eagles matches he started in group and quarterfinal stages of the Nations Cup. The summary is this, and I say it on record: in the Super Eagles, YAKUBU Is terribly low on productivity and results, and has failed again and again to justify his place in this team. Another thing is this, Yakubu has been extremely overrated and overhyped in some sections of the Nigerian sporting press. In fact, it seems he owes his prior entry into, and continued presence in the Super Eagles to those sections of the press.

These are some common traits that have characterized Yakubu’s game, and more so in this very Nations Cup in Angola as shown in the Super Eagles’ games in which he was given more than enough chance by the coach to prove his mettle. These are some of Yakubu’s highlights:
• Gives away his balls very cheaply
• Passes and controls balls poorly
• You can’t see him dribbling menacingly past opposing defenders
• You can’t see him firing goal-threatening shots (or even any shot at all)
• You can’t see him getting opposing defenders to commit fouls and blunders
• The worst is the kind of goal-begging chances made for him by teammates which he misses
• How about his size (big belly and backside)