Yobo hangs up Afcon boots
by George Akpayen 11 February 2013, 13:08
Nigeria’s most capped footballer, Joseph Yobo has played his last game for the Super Eagles at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Yobo made his 96th appearance for the Eagles on Sunday as the Nigerians beat West African rivals, Burkina Faso 1-0 at the National Stadium, Johannesburg to claim a third Afcon title.
The 32-year-old reckons he has played his last game at the Afcon for Nigeria and is prepared to step aside for the "new generation."
“I had said it earlier that (South Africa 2013) would be my last Afcon not because I cannot play any longer but because I have realised that I have given it a lot of time,” Yobo said on Sunday.
The Fenerbahce defender expressed happiness that he was quitting the scene with the ovation at its loudest.
“I was praying to God before I came here that hopefully this would be my last tournament and that I was going to win it.
“God has answered my prayers so I am very delighted. I feel so blessed.
“This is a massive achievement for me in my national team career,” he said.
Nigeria stunned the football world by winning the title in South Africa in the face of harsh criticism with the majority of their fans writing off their chances on the eve of the competition.
Yobo stressed that the absence of the usual burden of expectation which Nigerian teams usually face before tournaments worked in favour of the victorious 2013 class.
“Before this competition, very few gave us a chance and that coupled with the great unity of this squad is among the reasons we were successful this time,” he said.
