‘We held NFF guy by the waist’ — Aiyegbeni contrasts Osimhen’s ‘nice’ Super Eagles with Jay Jay Okocha, Kanu generation

Former Super Eagles striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni has praised today’s generation of Nigerian footballers, describing them as “nice guys” and reflecting on how his own era led by legends like Jay Jay Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu, and Sunday Oliseh had to be tougher in many ways.

The former Premier League star weighed in on the recent financial crisis that saw the Super Eagles games boycott training ahead of a key 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Gabon in Morocco.

Speaking in a video shared on social media amid the financial turmoil that saw the Super Eagles boycott training for a whole day until they were paid their bonuses, Yakubu revealed some behind-the-scenes stories showing how difficult things could get in the past.

“You have to be nice to play 31 matches over the years without pay,” Yakubu said. “We played and exited the tournament, we flew all the way to London, it’s a funny story,” he stated.

“I was asking for my ticket money, they were like ‘when next you come you’ll get your money.’ I said, ‘no chance, maybe next time they won’t call me again, my money will enter voice mail.’ I played with Bright Igbinadoolor, Benin boy. At the airport, I grabbed the NFF guy’s waist and said you must give me my money, the other people grabbed him too, about 1200 of us then. We had to sign and he gave us our money in year 2000.”

Commenting on the current Super Eagles stars led by Victor Osimhen and William Troost-Ekong, Yakubu added, “I think these boys are nice guys because you can’t play 31 games for how many years without being paid but you still play. When you have players like Oliseh, Kanu and Jay Jay Okocha, no chance.”

Yakubu’s reflections indicate both the grit of his generation, often battling administrative and financial challenges, and the contrasting professionalism and unity he sees in the current squad.

While Nigeria’s football battles the aftermath of the crisis, another World Cup missed, these insights from one of the country’s most respected legends emphasise the evolving landscape of Nigerian football and the unwavering commitment of its players across generations.