Nigeria: Aiyegbeni Begs for Forgiveness

13 June 2011

Out of favour Super Eagles striker, Yakubu Aiyegbeni has asked Nigerians to forgive him for his mistakes at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

A target of incessant booing during the Nwankwo Kanu testimonial at the Teslim Balogun stadium, Surulere, Lagos at the weekend, Aiyegbeni begged fans to put his miss in Eagles’ last World Cup game against behind them.

“It is normal that if you play a game and fans don’t like it, they will boo you. I missed a chance to score, for me I just want to say I am sorry about it, they should forgive and forget and let us move on,” he said.

The burly striker has not put on the green jersey since South Africa but he says he would give his all if given the nod by the coaches and he believes that Nigeria will qualify for next year’s African Cup of Nations final in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

“Of course, if I am not ready to serve my country I won’t be here today (Saturday) to play with Kanu with the Green-white-Green. It is my country, my home, and I am enjoying it, everyone wants to play for his country.

“If you look at the Cameroonians they are struggling, so many other African countries are struggling too, so for us to be here today, we have to stick together and work together, I believe we will qualify for the Nations Cup,” he said.

Aiyegbeni indicated that he will be returning to Everton at the start of the new season, “I still have a subsisting contract with Everton, I have to go back. It is really good for me to be here to play for Kanu and with other older ones, it is really an honour.”

AllAfrica – All the Time