NIGERIA
Do observers fail to truly appreciate the efforts of the Super Eagles’ highest-capped player?

Few Nigerian players in the 21st century quite managed to make it into the ‘great’ column.

Jay-Jay Okocha and Nwankwo Kanu immediately jump off the page, while Joseph Yobo, Vincent Enyeama and Mikel John Obi made commendable contributions to the nation’s football after the retirement of the 1996 Olympic Gold medalists.

The trio were crucial components of the Super Eagles in the 2000s and early 2010s, notably ending the nation’s 19-year wait for the Africa Cup of Nations with success in 2013.

Yobo was the captain of the side at that showpiece and he had the honour of lifting the continent’s prized trophy, just as then-coach Stephen Keshi had done in 1994.

Interestingly, like Keshi in the country’s success in the mid-90s, Yobo was only a peripheral figure in the West African nation’s triumph in South Africa.

Having started the opening 1-1 draw vs Burkina Faso, the late centre-back continued with Kenneth Omeruo and Godfrey Oboabona at the heart of the defence for the rest of the competition, meaning the experienced captain seldom played an on-pitch role in their success.


That was unlike Mikel and Enyeama, who were ever-presents in Nigeria’s unexpected triumph. The pair, in hindsight, probably attainted elevated status in the eyes of supporters owing to their prolonged involvement in the national team, but there’s a perception that Yobo is not placed on their level.

Indeed, despite the former central defender not playing a prominent part in the Afcon success of the early 2010s, he was a vital cog in previous iterations of the Super Eagles since his debut in 2002.

He was a mainstay in the side when it seemed Nigeria just couldn’t crack football on the continent in the 2000s and 2010, ending third in four of Yobo’s five Afcon appearances, before eventual success at the sixth attempt.

In a sense, it was no more than the defender deserved, having been part of several teams who didn’t get the rub of the green previously only to finally reign supreme when the overall quality in the side wasn’t all that great.

Perhaps a lack of involvement is why one of Nigeria’s best centre-backs of the modern era isn’t put on the same pedestal with Mikel and Enyeama, two players who essentially gave everything to the national team’s cause.


Still, Yobo’s overall contribution ought to put him in the same iconic bracket as those two at least, even if just a level below Okocha and Kanu.

Furthermore, his input at Everton in the early 2000s in making the Toffees one of the consistent contenders for Champions League qualification was quite admirable, and the Nigerian centre-back was one of the key players in David Moyes’ team’s return to prominence.

The Merseyside club had been used to lower-half finishes after the advent of the Premier League, but Yobo’s time at the club coincided with the Blues becoming a consistent side in the top 10.

They finished above bitter rivals Liverpool in 04/05 (the first time since 86/87) and built on that to constantly push above their weight in the English top flight.

Everton’s resurgence, aided by their sturdy defence and bustling nature, meant players like Yobo were highly regarded at the time. While links to Arsenal did the rounds at the mid-point of the decade, the central defender stayed put at Goodison Park, thus failing to get that big move his career probably deserved.


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Perhaps that’s why he isn’t viewed in the same light as Mikel: a Premier League champion and Champions League winner at Chelsea, whose crowning glory was an incredible showing in the Blues’ greatest-ever European night.

Enyeama was somewhat unlucky to play in France when Paris Saint-Germain dominated, but many of his performances for Lille at the time were noteworthy nonetheless.


Even more commendable were his consistent displays for an extended period for Nigeria, which included several top-class showings at the highest level.

The cream of the crop was when he put out a goalkeeping clinic to thwart Lionel Messi at the 2010 World Cup, making six saves in total, to prevent a more embarrassing defeat than the eventual 1-0.

Further man of the match performances included the 2-1 defeat by Greece in 2010, as well as notable Afcon games against Tunisia in 2006 and Zambia four years later.

Mikel had the trophies and standout performances, Enyeama also posted impeccable displays throughout his career, but Yobo didn’t seem to deliver enough on either front, despite forming one-third of the Nigeria spine that finally recoded Afcon success in 2013.

Compared to those two, maybe he’s undervalued, and some will argue for good reason. However, his input in Everton’s renaissance deserves mention even if it didn’t materialise in a big move his ability at the time probably deserved,

Yobo isn’t underrated, rather, he’s appreciated for the part he played for Nigeria as well as for Everton. No more, no less.