Yakubu Aiyegbeni Reveals He Still Gets Bullied For Historic Miss

Former Nigerian football star, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, known affectionately as “The Yak”, has recently opened up about the enduring torment he faces due to a missed opportunity that occurred over a decade ago. Despite his prolific career and numerous successes, Aiyegbeni remains haunted by a single moment that continues to overshadow his achievements.

The incident in question took place on June 22, 2010, during a crucial World Cup match between Nigeria and South Korea. With the Super Eagles trailing 2-1 in the final Group A fixture, Aiyegbeni found himself in a prime position to level the score with a seemingly straightforward tap-in. However, to the disbelief of fans worldwide, he failed to convert the chance, squandering what appeared to be an easy goal.

Despite later redeeming himself with a successful penalty kick, the missed opportunity has lingered in the memories of Nigerian football enthusiasts, refusing to fade into obscurity. Yakubu Aiyegbeni’s name became synonymous with that moment of despair, overshadowing his numerous contributions to the sport throughout his career.

In a recent interview shared on social media, Aiyegbeni expressed his frustration and anguish over the continued harassment he faces from fans demanding an explanation for the miss. Despite more than a decade passing since the incident, he still receives messages filled with anger and disappointment, as though the wound inflicted by that missed opportunity remains fresh in the minds of many.

As fans, it’s important to remember that athletes are human, prone to mistakes and moments of weakness like anyone else. While it’s natural to feel disappointment over a missed opportunity, subjecting individuals to relentless criticism and harassment serves no constructive purpose. Instead, it’s crucial to celebrate the successes and contributions of athletes, acknowledging their resilience in the face of adversity.

For Aiyegbeni, the burden of that missed tap-in may never fully dissipate, but perhaps with time and understanding, the focus can shift towards his illustrious career and the joy he brought to countless fans throughout his time on the pitch. After all, in the game of football, as in life, it’s not the mistakes that define us, but how we respond to them that truly matters.

“I still get messages from people. Different messages. I remember one was sending a message last week and he was like ‘how do you explain that goal missed to you daughter Kayla’ he mentioned my daughter’s name ‘Kayla’. I was like 13 to 14 years ago and people still think about that,” he said.

“I got a message today and someone was like ‘you’re the worst Super Eagles striker’ because of that particular goal I missed. They never think about all the other goals I’ve scored.

“They never think about when I scored goals in Sudan when nobody thought we’d qualify for Korea Japan 2002. We went to Sudan. Nobody ever thought we’d qualify because the weather there was crazy. If we get a draw or lose we’re out.

“There I scored 2 goals. Julius Aghahowa scored one and Jay Jay Okocha, ‘pa Jay’ scored another one. We won 4-0. That gave us the ticket and went to Korea-Japan 2000.

“But people in Nigeria never speak about how I made them qualify but didn’t go to the World Cup. I was shocked. I played 99.9% of every game to qualify Nigeria for Japan/Korea and I was dropped.”