Former Nigerian striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni has expressed that he would find it challenging to score goals with the current Super Eagles team due to their lack of creativity.
Aiyegbeni, who represented the national team from 2000 to 2012, shared his thoughts on the Super Eagles’ performance during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers when he made these remarks.
In their eight matches, Eric Chelle’s squad has netted nine goals while conceding seven, placing them in a precarious third position in the qualifying series and on the brink of missing a second consecutive World Cup.
The 42-year-old pointed out that the team’s struggle to secure a 2026 World Cup spot is due to their lack of creativity.
“When we analyze the team, we have an excess of defensive midfielders. We lack a creative midfielder. If I were to play on this team, I would find it hard to score goals. I’m saying this because when you observe Osimhen in action, he’s putting in the effort. After all, he is aware of the situation,” Aiyegbeni stated on Sunday Oliseh’s podcast.
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We lack a midfielder capable of making effective passes. Our passing is often sideways. We struggle to string together six or seven passes. When we do manage to pass the ball a little, we resort to long kicks. We cannot develop a team in this manner.”
Aiyegbeni ranks as Nigeria’s fourth all-time leading goal scorer with 21 goals in 55 appearances.
He made his full international debut on April 22, 2000, in a 4–0 home victory in Lagos against Eritrea during the qualification for the 2002 African Cup of Nations. He also netted his first international goal in an away match against Namibia on June 16, 2001, in the same qualification campaign.
Known affectionately as ‘The Yak’ by his teammates, he was part of Nigeria’s squads for the 2002 and 2010 World Cups. He is notoriously remembered by fans for missing a crucial opportunity during Nigeria’s last group game against South Korea at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
In addition to his national team achievements, Aiyegbeni also holds the record for the most goals scored by a Nigerian player.
