Former Super Eagles striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni has finally broken his silence on the infamous miss that has haunted Nigerian football fans for over a decade.
Speaking in an interview, Yakubu addressed the fallout from his shocking miss in Nigeria’s 2010 FIFA World Cup clash against South Korea, a moment still discussed and debated 15 years later.
During the group stage match in South Africa, Yakubu was presented with a seemingly unmissable opportunity just two metres from goal.
To the shock of Nigerians, the striker failed to convert, sparking an outpouring of criticism that still lingers today, Tribal Football reports.
Even though he scored a penalty just 10 minutes later to level the match, the damage was done. In the eyes of the fans, the miss cost Nigeria a place in the knockout rounds.
Yakubu blasts Nigerians who still bully him
Yakubu has had enough of the blame game and has bared his mind on the bullying he has had to endure for over 15 years since the incident.
“We should all forget the miss and remember the good ones,” he said.
“It’s almost 14 years already, and people still talk about that miss, not the goals I scored or the times I helped Nigeria qualify.”
While many fans recall Yakubu’s miss with disappointment, few acknowledge the mental strength it took for him to step up and convert a penalty just minutes later.
I still get bu||£d till today over the goal I missed at South Africa 2010 World Cup
— Nigeria Stories (@NigeriaStories) March 2, 2024
~ Yakubu Aiyegbeni pic.twitter.com/AMmmF9PNcq
After Chinedu Obasi was fouled in the box, the former Everton striker calmly slotted home from the spot in the 69th minute.
“I still had the courage to take the penalty after 10 minutes,” Yakubu added.
“And people still send me messages about missing that goal. What about the goals I scored before then? What about when I helped Nigeria qualify and still got dropped?”
Despite a career that spanned more than a decade with the Super Eagles, fans continue to define Yakubu’s legacy by a single missed chance, OwnGoal Nigeria reports.
“Even Messi and Ronaldo miss chances,” he said, “but people still talk about my own — maybe they just love me for that.”
More than just one moment
Yakubu’s remarks reflect a deeper issue within Nigerian football: the tendency to define players by singular moments rather than their full body of work.
The 2010 World Cup campaign was doomed by more than one miss: Nigeria had already lost to Argentina and Greece, and the entire team underperformed under coach Lars Lagerback.
Still, Yakubu’s miss became a meme, a punchline, and a symbol of disappointment.
Oooooomo!
— Fazlur (@Fazlurfarah) April 24, 2025
Miss Yakubu Aiyegbeni...🤔🤔 pic.twitter.com/7ev6FprfDa
Now, 15 years on, Yakubu is asking for fairness and recognition of all he gave to Nigeria’s football journey.
