Former Nigeria skipper Nwankwo Kanu has said he was not sure that Nigerians have forgiven Yakubu Aiyegbeni for the bizare miss at the 2010 World Cup.

Aiyegbeni missed an open goal in a must-win match against South Korea at last year’s World Cup in South Africa and has since not played for Nigeria.

“I’m still not sure the fans have forgiven him,” Kanu said in an interview with the UAE newspaper The National.

Kanu is now an ambassador for the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

Kanu, who jointly holds the all-time record number of caps for Nigeria, maintained though that the striker who has been in superb scoring form for his English Premier League side Blackburn Rovers remains relevant in the current Eagles team.

“Nigeria need him and his goals for Blackburn show he is back in form,” argued Kanu.

New Eagles coach Stephen Keshi has maintained he will consider The Yak for his next call-ups.

“He’s a Nigerian and so he is eligible to represent his country. And as long as he is working hard and doing well at his club, I will invite him,” Keshi told MTNFootball.com

“I will work with all Nigerian players who are doing well both at home and abroad.”

Yakubu made a very strong claim for a return to the Eagles after his four goals for Blackburn against Swansea in the EPL at the weekend.

That remarkable haul has brought the 29-year-old striker’s tally to 10 goals for Blackburn since his switch on transfer deadline day from Everton