Former Super Eagles captain,
Joseph Yobo, has described
the problems of Nigerian
football as ‘egoistical.’
Yobo earned his first Nigeria
cap in 2001 against Zambia
and played his last game, his
100th cap, against France at
the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
“A lot of people take things
too personal and for their
own selfish reasons but
football is a professional
thing and you should treat it
like that. As a captain, I
realised that the country
always comes first.Whether
you are the NFF boss, the
coach or player, you need to
know that the country comes
first and it’s not about your
personal position. That’s
where we have issues, we
are egoistical,” the former
Everton centre-back said.
“Sometimes we forget that
what we are doing is for our
country regardless of our
background and differences.
For instance if a player is
good let him play. There must
be discipline, but don’t take
it personal. The coaches and
administrators have all been
out there and learned the
best so we should do it here.
Once we all act like
professionals and see it as a
collective success then we
can move forward in a
positive way.”
The Eagles were engulfed in
a bonus row at last year’s
World Cup, with the players
labelled as selfish and
putting personal interests
ahead of national service but
Yobo, who started all the
Eagles games he played
between 2001 and 2012,
disagreed.
Instead, the ex-Fenerbahce
man said the players gave
their all to the nation,
travelling in pitiable airlines
to honour international
engagements.
He said, “That’s unfair. The
problem is when you have
agreed something with
people then make it happen.
At the World Cup or during
bonus rows, it was not about
the money for some players
but the motive behind it. As a
captain my concern was for
some of the local players and
youngsters, who travelled
thousands of miles, sacrifice
themselves on pitiable
planes and gave their all on
the pitch.
“For those of us playing in
Europe for years, $10,000
may not be our problem. But
what about those playing at
home and are deprived of
the bonuses promised them?
And knowing our society,
that money can do a lot of
things in their families and
communities. Then you deny
them something to take back
home after all the sacrifice.”
“Sadly people only hear
negative things about the
players. Who has heard
those with flying phobia
being kept on pitiable
planes? Mentally and
psychologically they suffer
and still give their best on
the pitch but when they ask
for what’s promised them,
they are termed greedy and
unpatriotic lots.” http://www.punchng.com/sports/ego-problem-of-nigerian-football-yobo/

Yobo has said it all. I never believed in criticizing d eagles over the w/c bonus row, if you want to take me for a ride over what's due to me then you've crossed the line. And that's how most Nigerians behave, but the holier than thou's will open their mouth and spill thrash.. While they turn a blind eye to the excesses of the administrator's..