Yobo chases Lawal’ s all-time Nigerian caps
By JOHN EGBOKHAN
Fenerbahce of Turkey central defender, Joseph Yobo is 11 international matches away from smashing Mudashiru Lawal all-time caps for Nigeria after earning his 76th caps for the Super Eagles last weekend, in a 2012 African Nations Cup qualifier against Ethiopia at the Abuja National Stadium.
Lawal won 86 caps and scored 12 goals for his country and remains the most capped Nigerian player. The only player ever to appear at five consecutive Nation Cup final rounds (1976-1984), Lawal played a vital part in the Green Eagles as known then to Nigeria’s first title, at the 1980 African Nations Cup event in Lagos. The team also competed at the Summer Olympics the same year.
He worked as a mechanic when his football talents were discovered, making his national team debut in 1975. The same year he joined Shooting Stars of Ibadan he played for many years before dying in his home in 1991.
Yobo burst onto the national scene in 2001 and since then has not looked back playing three matches for the Super Eagles in the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea and even provided the assist for his side’s only goal of the tournament.
His play at international level has received positive reviews, even though he has scored four goals. He was also part of the Nigerian squad for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa an.
He captained Nigeria against Ethiopia and posted a decent display which might earn him another cap during tomorrow’s friendly match against Kenya, which would see his national cap hitting the 77th mark, and with matches yet to be played in the qualifying race for the Nations Cup, he seems on course to smash Lawal’s all-time Nigerian cap in the near future.
Speaking on the looming day with destiny, Yobo admitted that he was not aware that he was the second most capped Nigerian player until he came to Nigeria and was told by Coach Samson Siasia. He added that he was happy about the prospects of entering the record books but was not really focused on achieving the aim.
“I was not aware of breaking Muda Lawal’s record until the coach said something to that effect when I joined the team in Abuja. I am not focused on that but I am still happy all the same. It would a great achievement for to break the record “, said Yobo, who was born in Kano on September 6 1980 but grew in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
