Yobo Calm Over Omission

Yobo

Captain of Nigeria’s Super Eagles, Joseph Yobo appears to have accepted his fate as head coach of the national team, Stephen Keshi continues to overlook him in his selection.

Yobo, Nigeria’s most capped footballer has not played for the Super Eagles since the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

The Fenerbahce defender initially reacted in anger at his continued exclusion when he criticised Keshi in a radio interview; accusing the national trainer of “disrespecting him.”

The 32-year-old now appears resigned towards accepting his fate and claims he’s “not disappointed about being left out” of the squad for the busy programme in June that will see Nigeria face Namibia and Kenya in 2014 Fifa World Cup qualifiers as well as compete at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil.

Yobo was not included in the Nigeria squad that drew 2-2 against Mexico in an international friendly in Houston on Saturday.

“Whatever happened has happened and that’s behind me now. When I look at the whole season, I’m very grateful to God because this could have been my worst season. I’m not disappointed about being left out. I’m very happy and supportive for those who have been called in to the team,” Yobo said.

Yobo, a veteran of 12 years of international experience under his belt then advised the current generation of players in the Nigeria squad to keep their feet firmly on the ground.

“It’s their time. They should take it, they should enjoy it. I’ll definitely be watching and I’ll give them my support. I’ll speak to some of the players and encourage them. I was a Super Eagles fan before I became a Super Eagles player and I will remain a fan after I stop playing, so I will always support the team whether I am there or not.

Yobo almost missed the 2013 Afcon, a tournament where he claimed his only piece of international silverware, as a result of an injury but expressed gratitude that he recovered in time to play in the competition.

“I sustained a very nasty injury and wasn’t even sure I would make it to the Nations Cup. I had already ruled myself out of the tournament, but God saw me through and I came back early and made it.

“Then I won the Nations Cup and now won the Turkish Cup, then got to the semifinals of the Europa League, something that was a bit of history because it was the first time for the club to get to that level,” he said.

Yobo has scored seven goals in 95 appearances for Nigeria.

Source: The Nation