The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has appointed former Super
Eagles defender and captain Joseph Yobo as assistant coach of the team.
The former Everton defender will replace Imama Amapakabo in the technical crew of the senior men’s national team.
He played for the Nigeria U-20 team, the Flying Eagles – during the
FIFA World Youth Championship (now known as FIFA U20 World Cup) in
1999.
The attack-minded defender won his first cap for the senior team in
an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match away to Zambia in Chingola in
April 2001 and played in three FIFA World Cup finals in 2002, 2010 and
2014.
He also played in six Africa Cup of Nations finals in 2002, 2004,
2006, 2008, 2010 and 2013, capping it with leading the Super Eagles to
their third continental title in South Africa in 2013. He played a total
of 100 matches for Nigeria at senior level.
A thoroughbred and dedicated professional who played his club
football in five countries, including sterling appearances for Olympique
Marseille in the French top flight, Fenerbahce in Turkey and Everton FC
in the English Premiership, Joseph Yobo scored several crucial goals
for the Super Eagles in important qualifying matches for the FIFA World
Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations. He was also among the scorers when
the Eagles thrashed South Africa’s Bafana Bafana 4-0 in a group phase
match in Tunisia 16 years ago.
Born Joseph Michael Yobo on 6th September 1980, the flamboyant
stopper also played club football in Belgium with Standard Liege,
Tenerife in Spain and Norwich City in England, having started out with
Michellin-Harcourt in Rivers State in 1996.
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