Super Eagles captain Joseph Yobo believes that last Wednesday’s goalless draw with the Amavubi of Rwanda in a 2013 AFCON qualifier was not a bad result, just as he insists in this interview with RICHARD JIDEAKA that nothing will stop Nigeria from winning the second leg. He also reveals how he was close to quitting international football.
How do you feel about the goalless draw you played with Rwanda last Wednesday?
It was a very tight game to be frank. My joy is that we did not lose in the end. We were simply lucky not to concede a late goal. However, we shall try to get it right when they come for the second leg in Abuja.
The Rwandans have shown once again that they are no longer pushovers in African football, but we were happy to leave Kigali with a draw.
Would you say the result dented your record-breaking achievement of 87 caps for the Super Eagles?
I thought we were going to win the match to celebrate my 87th cap for the Super Eagles which erased Late Muda Lawal’s 86 caps. A victory would have been a special gift for me, but I give God the glory for everything. I didn’t know I would come this far. I think it is a great achievement when you look back and it’s not only about breaking a record but how consistent I have been over the years. May be the coaches I have played under have a question to answer on why all of them have always believed in me and kept faith with me. It has changed my life in certain ways to get to 87 caps and considering the fact that Nigeria does not play so many games compared to some other countries, it is a massive achievement for me.
Would it be realistic to target 100 caps after breaking Muda Lawal’s 16 years record?
Of course, it is possible. I am just few matches away from that. As long as I continue to look after myself, playing week in, week out for my club and I am able to stay away from injury, I can easily hit the 100 cap mark. I take one game at a time, I like to win and I also enjoy playing football. These things are happening when Nigerian football is not really great again and before the new coach came on board, I thought about so many things when we did not qualify for the last Nations Cup.
Did you ever contemplate quitting international football when it was dawned on you that Nigeria would not be going to the 2012 Africa Nations Cup?
Yes… I really thought about retiring from international football, but my wife, some stakeholders and friends urged me not to quit at that period. And when a new coach came, it was another opportunity because I would not have justified anything if i left at a time when things were not going well. So, I am just trying to push myself now to ensure that though we did not qualify for the last Nations Cup, the next will not elude us.
Did you take some time off to watch the last Nations Cup in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea?
No, I tried to stay away from it because I am a human being so our not being there really affected us and I could not imagine myself watching a competition that I felt we could have won. But that is part of life. Life is full of ups and downs.
Are you surprised that the Zambian team you beat 2-0 in a friendly match in Kaduna eventually emerged champions of the 2012 Africa Nations Cup?
I am not surprised that Zambia won. It is a big credit for them because that was the same team I played against and defeated in Nigeria and after that game, I knew they were a good side that was capable of doing so many things. It is not surprising at all that they won the Nations Cup. It goes to show that anything can happen in African football.
Were you also surprised that Ivory Coast did not win the Cup with the array of stars they paraded at the Nations Cup?
Yes… if you look at the teams paraded by Cote D’ Ivoire, Ghana and Senegal, who did not even get a single point, one will be surprised. With the kind of attack the Senegalese paraded, one could have concluded that they would be too hot to handle. They paraded some top players in Europe and they did not get a single point. That consoled us a little bit because if Nigeria had qualified and we failed to get a point, that could have been more disastrous for us.
What was your reaction when Coach Stephen Keshi invited only 11 foreign based professionals to join 11 home boys for the match against Rwanda?
Nothing special of course; because I was in regular contact with the coach and he told me a lot about the home boys. I was supposed to come down and see them play or train but I did not have the time off to come. I saw them for just two days prior to the match and it was my first time playing with them.
They really did well and I gave them pat on their backs for their performance. All they need now is to play more friendly games and get more experience. I am very happy with those that played in the match against Rwanda and I am very happy with the coaches’ decision. It is not easy at all, but slowly, when you wear the national team’s colour, it gives you more confidence and with more friendly games, they would get better.
Do you think they will get better if they to Europe to play? And do you think they are mature to go abroad at all?
They are good but it depends on where they are going and who is taking them there. The ones I have seen have the talents and ability. The only thing missing is the experience. That will come by playing quite a lot of games, especially when you are playing in a key position. I think going to Europe is going to help them. I wish them the very best and I hope they succeed because it is going to help their career.
Who would you pick as the man-of- the-match and what are your reasons for picking him?
The home guys were very impressive, but I cannot really pick any player as the man of the match. They did so well but there are still rooms for improvement. All of them that featured in the game were good.
What is going to happen in the second leg when the Rwandans come to Nigeria for the second leg since their coach was so sure they would eliminate Nigeria?
I don’t predict matches, I leave everything to God, but I always pray for victory in every game I play.
It’s going to be very tough but we are playing on a natural grass at home and we don’t have any excuses to give if we fail. Football in Africa is no longer predictable, but I can say we’ll do everything within the rules to win. The Rwandan coach is entitled to his opinion. Let us see how he will stop us when they come to Nigeria.
With this result, would you subscribe to the invitation of more foreign based professionals for the return leg?
I think that is the coach’s decision to take. If he feels the home boys can deliver, why not. And if he feels that he needs to strengthen his squad with more foreign based, I don’t have a say. If he seeks my advice, of course, that will be personal between us but he is the one that is in charge. He knows what the team needs. Those that played against Rwanda did so well and you can’t just throw them out. It is impossible! You just have to find a balance.
The Super Eagles under Stephen Keshi has played five matches, won two and drew three, scored four goals and concede none…
It’s amazing that this team under coach Keshi is yet to lose a game or concede a single goal. That means that we have shown a lot of consistency at the back which is good for our confidence. The attack will also rise to the occasion with time.
What do you want to achieve with this current set of players at the national team level?
Like I said earlier, we have to take one game at a time, qualify for the next African Nations Cup and hopefully go and win it and see how it goes from there. The World Cup is another major target, but my kind of person is such that whenever I am not enjoying something, I let it go. However, I hope to be playing at the top level for another seven years to come.
How long would you remain with the Super Eagles before calling it quits?
I just want the national team to get to back to glory days just like in the past. Honestly, for the past three to four years, the national team has been going downwards. It did not start today, it had been a gradual thing and I feel this is the time for us to rally round and see to it that the team bounces back.
It is a lot of work for the players, the coaches, the officials, the federation and the media. We have to come together as a family and push the national team forward. When the national team gets to a certain level and if I no longer enjoy my football, I would throw in the towel.
Will you consider going into coaching when you retire from active football?
Everyone seemed to be telling me I would do well in this field. David Moyes, my coach at Everton FC and present coach in Fenerbache always told me that I have the qualities to be a good coach. Football is my life. I have a lot of things going on around me, but when you are in football consistently for years, it is difficult to divorce it completely. It is always going to remain my first love. Coaching, yes, but it depends on the environment. Coaching in Africa is a little bit difficult, considering that one has played tough football for so long and one is really blessed. If things changes, I might get a coaching certificate but it’s not something I am going to rush into for now. Like I said, I have other interests and a lot of options I am looking forward to; but if it’s something I have to do because football is my love, I may go into coaching in the nearest future.
What is Yobo worth financially?
Well, let us just say Yobo is comfortable and I give God the glory for that. It is the Lord who made me what I am today.
It‘s my pleasure, any time!
How do you feel about the goalless draw you played with Rwanda last Wednesday?
It was a very tight game to be frank. My joy is that we did not lose in the end. We were simply lucky not to concede a late goal. However, we shall try to get it right when they come for the second leg in Abuja.
The Rwandans have shown once again that they are no longer pushovers in African football, but we were happy to leave Kigali with a draw.
Would you say the result dented your record-breaking achievement of 87 caps for the Super Eagles?
I thought we were going to win the match to celebrate my 87th cap for the Super Eagles which erased Late Muda Lawal’s 86 caps. A victory would have been a special gift for me, but I give God the glory for everything. I didn’t know I would come this far. I think it is a great achievement when you look back and it’s not only about breaking a record but how consistent I have been over the years. May be the coaches I have played under have a question to answer on why all of them have always believed in me and kept faith with me. It has changed my life in certain ways to get to 87 caps and considering the fact that Nigeria does not play so many games compared to some other countries, it is a massive achievement for me.
Would it be realistic to target 100 caps after breaking Muda Lawal’s 16 years record?
Of course, it is possible. I am just few matches away from that. As long as I continue to look after myself, playing week in, week out for my club and I am able to stay away from injury, I can easily hit the 100 cap mark. I take one game at a time, I like to win and I also enjoy playing football. These things are happening when Nigerian football is not really great again and before the new coach came on board, I thought about so many things when we did not qualify for the last Nations Cup.
Did you ever contemplate quitting international football when it was dawned on you that Nigeria would not be going to the 2012 Africa Nations Cup?
Yes… I really thought about retiring from international football, but my wife, some stakeholders and friends urged me not to quit at that period. And when a new coach came, it was another opportunity because I would not have justified anything if i left at a time when things were not going well. So, I am just trying to push myself now to ensure that though we did not qualify for the last Nations Cup, the next will not elude us.
Did you take some time off to watch the last Nations Cup in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea?
No, I tried to stay away from it because I am a human being so our not being there really affected us and I could not imagine myself watching a competition that I felt we could have won. But that is part of life. Life is full of ups and downs.
Are you surprised that the Zambian team you beat 2-0 in a friendly match in Kaduna eventually emerged champions of the 2012 Africa Nations Cup?
I am not surprised that Zambia won. It is a big credit for them because that was the same team I played against and defeated in Nigeria and after that game, I knew they were a good side that was capable of doing so many things. It is not surprising at all that they won the Nations Cup. It goes to show that anything can happen in African football.
Were you also surprised that Ivory Coast did not win the Cup with the array of stars they paraded at the Nations Cup?
Yes… if you look at the teams paraded by Cote D’ Ivoire, Ghana and Senegal, who did not even get a single point, one will be surprised. With the kind of attack the Senegalese paraded, one could have concluded that they would be too hot to handle. They paraded some top players in Europe and they did not get a single point. That consoled us a little bit because if Nigeria had qualified and we failed to get a point, that could have been more disastrous for us.
What was your reaction when Coach Stephen Keshi invited only 11 foreign based professionals to join 11 home boys for the match against Rwanda?
Nothing special of course; because I was in regular contact with the coach and he told me a lot about the home boys. I was supposed to come down and see them play or train but I did not have the time off to come. I saw them for just two days prior to the match and it was my first time playing with them.
They really did well and I gave them pat on their backs for their performance. All they need now is to play more friendly games and get more experience. I am very happy with those that played in the match against Rwanda and I am very happy with the coaches’ decision. It is not easy at all, but slowly, when you wear the national team’s colour, it gives you more confidence and with more friendly games, they would get better.
Do you think they will get better if they to Europe to play? And do you think they are mature to go abroad at all?
They are good but it depends on where they are going and who is taking them there. The ones I have seen have the talents and ability. The only thing missing is the experience. That will come by playing quite a lot of games, especially when you are playing in a key position. I think going to Europe is going to help them. I wish them the very best and I hope they succeed because it is going to help their career.
Who would you pick as the man-of- the-match and what are your reasons for picking him?
The home guys were very impressive, but I cannot really pick any player as the man of the match. They did so well but there are still rooms for improvement. All of them that featured in the game were good.
What is going to happen in the second leg when the Rwandans come to Nigeria for the second leg since their coach was so sure they would eliminate Nigeria?
I don’t predict matches, I leave everything to God, but I always pray for victory in every game I play.
It’s going to be very tough but we are playing on a natural grass at home and we don’t have any excuses to give if we fail. Football in Africa is no longer predictable, but I can say we’ll do everything within the rules to win. The Rwandan coach is entitled to his opinion. Let us see how he will stop us when they come to Nigeria.
With this result, would you subscribe to the invitation of more foreign based professionals for the return leg?
I think that is the coach’s decision to take. If he feels the home boys can deliver, why not. And if he feels that he needs to strengthen his squad with more foreign based, I don’t have a say. If he seeks my advice, of course, that will be personal between us but he is the one that is in charge. He knows what the team needs. Those that played against Rwanda did so well and you can’t just throw them out. It is impossible! You just have to find a balance.
The Super Eagles under Stephen Keshi has played five matches, won two and drew three, scored four goals and concede none…
It’s amazing that this team under coach Keshi is yet to lose a game or concede a single goal. That means that we have shown a lot of consistency at the back which is good for our confidence. The attack will also rise to the occasion with time.
What do you want to achieve with this current set of players at the national team level?
Like I said earlier, we have to take one game at a time, qualify for the next African Nations Cup and hopefully go and win it and see how it goes from there. The World Cup is another major target, but my kind of person is such that whenever I am not enjoying something, I let it go. However, I hope to be playing at the top level for another seven years to come.
How long would you remain with the Super Eagles before calling it quits?
I just want the national team to get to back to glory days just like in the past. Honestly, for the past three to four years, the national team has been going downwards. It did not start today, it had been a gradual thing and I feel this is the time for us to rally round and see to it that the team bounces back.
It is a lot of work for the players, the coaches, the officials, the federation and the media. We have to come together as a family and push the national team forward. When the national team gets to a certain level and if I no longer enjoy my football, I would throw in the towel.
Will you consider going into coaching when you retire from active football?
Everyone seemed to be telling me I would do well in this field. David Moyes, my coach at Everton FC and present coach in Fenerbache always told me that I have the qualities to be a good coach. Football is my life. I have a lot of things going on around me, but when you are in football consistently for years, it is difficult to divorce it completely. It is always going to remain my first love. Coaching, yes, but it depends on the environment. Coaching in Africa is a little bit difficult, considering that one has played tough football for so long and one is really blessed. If things changes, I might get a coaching certificate but it’s not something I am going to rush into for now. Like I said, I have other interests and a lot of options I am looking forward to; but if it’s something I have to do because football is my love, I may go into coaching in the nearest future.
What is Yobo worth financially?
Well, let us just say Yobo is comfortable and I give God the glory for that. It is the Lord who made me what I am today.
It‘s my pleasure, any time!
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