Aiyegbeni breaks silence on 2004 AFCON controversy

Former Nigerian Super Eagles striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni has spoken out about the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations controversy that led to his and two teammates, Victor Agali and Celestine Babayaro, being sent home from the tournament. The trio was accused of breaking camp rules but insisted they had only returned to their rooms after spending time downstairs.

Yakubu revealed to Nigerian sports interviewer AY Suga that the decision to send them home had already been made before they were called to a meeting. He expressed shock at the media report announcing their expulsion, which came shortly after officials informed them of the decision. Yakubu felt disappointed that his teammates did not stand up for the affected players or challenge the decision.

Despite the controversy, he reflected positively on his international career, describing playing for Nigeria as a blessing and emphasizing his goal-scoring 21 goals for the national team.