'Inside me i was gone' - Yakubu opens up on his infamous 2010 World Cup miss

Former Super Eagles striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni has provided a candid and emotional account of the most haunting moment of his career, the infamous open-goal miss against South Korea at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

The incident occurred during Nigeria's final group stage match against South Korea. The Super Eagles, needing a win to have any hope of progressing to the knockout rounds, were trailing 2-1 when a pass from Yusuf Ayila found Yakubu just a few yards from an empty net.

What seemed like a simple tap-in for a player of his calibre resulted in a shocking miss that sent the ball wide of the post.

For years, the miss has been a source of pain and criticism for Yakubu, but in an interview with former Super Eagles captain, Sunday Oliseh, he revealed the inner turmoil he felt during that fateful moment.

Speaking about the miss, Yakubu described a moment of mental surrender even before the ball left his foot.

"One million per cent in my head that I have already scored," he said.

He explained that his confidence turned to instant dread when he realised his touch was wrong.

"I didn't touch it properly. I knew it was going out already, inside me I was gone," he admitted.

The emotional weight of the miss was compounded by the fact that his family was in the stands, and the stadium's big screen was replaying the moment for all to see. Despite the anguish he felt inside, Yakubu maintained a calm exterior.

"I was watching, chewing gum and smiling, but inside me I was gone," he added.

The miss has remained a topic of intense discussion among Nigerian football fans for years.