Nigeria captain Joseph
Yobo has announced his
retirement from the
national side after the Super Eagles fell 2-0 to
France in the second round of the World Cup.
The 33-year-old became the first Nigerian to
play 100 international matches but capped it
with an own goal in added time against Les
Bleus.
He follows in the footsteps of Nwankwo Kanu
who announced his retirement after the 2010
World Cup.
“It was a bitter-sweet moment for me but I think
it is time to focus on my family,” Yobo told
reporters. “It has been a long road.”
Yobo made his debut with the Super Eagles in
2001 but became a mainstay of the team during
the 2002 World Cup in Korea/Japan.
He played at three World Cups and won the
Africa Cup of Nations as captain last year.
“We’ve won the Africa Nations Cup and we came
here and were not disgraced,” said the
Fenerbahce man.
“I never thought that I’d be here because I
missed the last six games of the season through
injury. They gave me an opportunity but it is
unfortunate what happened.
“I gave my all,” he said.
However, Yobo thinks that he’s leaving the
national team in capable hands with the duo of
defenders Kenneth Omeruo and Godfrey
Oboabona able to continue in his place.
“They would grow,” he said. “Omeruo has done
very well. Oboabona was injured but he got his
chance at the Nations Cup. They’re going to get
better, the experience is going to come and one
of them has to take the responsibility and be a
leader.”
The defender said he would like to concentrate
on club football afterwards.




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