Former Super Eagles striker and coach Samson Siasia has opened up about a controversial moment in his playing career that led to his temporary exclusion from the Nigerian national team. According to Siasia, he was dropped after a match incident where he failed to pass the ball to legendary striker Rashidi Yekini during a critical World Cup qualifier.
Speaking in an interview with Emmanuel Babayaro on UTVAfrica, Siasia recounted the event, which took place during a high-stakes encounter against Ivory Coast in Abidjan.
“It was one of my toughest moments,” Siasia admitted.
“I’m a striker. If the situation was reversed, Rashidi Yekini wouldn’t have passed that ball to me either—that’s just the reality. Sometimes you score, sometimes you miss. Rashidi was one of the greatest strikers I ever played with. May his soul rest in peace.”
He further revealed that the backlash following that match led to him being dropped from the squad, forcing him to fight his way back into the team.
“My lowest point was when I didn’t pass the ball to Yekini and I was removed from the team. I had to hustle and earn my place back,” he said.
Siasia clarified that while fans and officials criticized him for not assisting Yekini, he had previously created multiple chances for the striker that weren’t converted.
“People forget that even the best players don’t score every chance. That’s football,” he added.
Siasia on Europe-Born Players in the Current Super Eagles Squad
Turning his attention to the modern-day Super Eagles, Siasia also weighed in on the growing number of Europe-born players representing Nigeria. He suggested that many of these players only chose to play for Nigeria after being overlooked by their countries of birth.
“The players we had between 1990 and 1998 were homegrown talents who went to Europe after proving themselves locally,” he explained.
“Today, we’re bringing players born in Europe to play for Nigeria. It’s a different reality. Many of them only come to Nigeria because they didn’t get the chance to represent their birth countries.”
Siasia acknowledged the talent of today’s squad but emphasized the difference in mentality and development pathways between his generation and the current crop.
“We struggled to make it to Europe, they were born there. It’s a completely different experience,” he said.
Current Europe-Born Stars in the Super Eagles
The current Super Eagles squad includes several Europe-born players who have become central to the team’s recent campaigns. Notable names include:
Alex Iwobi (born in England)
William Troost-Ekong (born in the Netherlands)
Ademola Lookman (born in England)
Ola Aina (born in England)
These players have since become key contributors to the national team, helping Nigeria compete at top international levels, including the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
