'I didn't pass' – 1994 Afcon winner Siasia opens up on why he was kicked out of Super Eagles

Former Super Eagles striker and 1994 Africa Cup of Nations winner, Samson Siasia, has opened up on one of the most difficult moments of his playing career, the incident that saw him temporarily dropped from the Nigeria national team.

Reflecting on the golden generation of Nigerian footballers between 1990 and 1998, Siasia highlighted the contrasting paths taken by players of his era and those representing the Super Eagles today.

Siasia noted that while current internationals often have European roots, the stars of his generation had to fight their way up through the local system before earning opportunities abroad.

"The crop of players we had during that era, 1990-1998, were great players that left the shores of Nigeria, went to Europe and came back, not now that we are bringing in players from Europe to come and play for Nigeria - two different things, Siasia told Emmanuel Babayaro on UTVAfrica.

"Kids that were born in Europe or went at an early age doing well for their clubs are back to play for the national team.

"If they had a chance to play for a European country, great players, they won’t come. We struggled and made it to Europe but they were born."

Siasia also spoke candidly about his on-pitch relationship with the late Rashidi Yekini, Nigeria's all-time top scorer.

During Nigeria's 1994 World Cup qualifier against Ivory Coast at Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Abidjan, Siasia squandered a key chance by shooting instead of passing to the better-positioned Rashidi Yekini. 

The missed opportunity, which manager Clemens Westerhof considered selfish play, led to Siasia being dropped from the Super Eagles for the rest of the qualifiers.

Recalling the infamous moment that cost him his place in the national team, the former Nantes and Lokeren forward said: "I am a striker. Rashidi Yekini won't give me that ball if it was him, that's the truth.

"Sometimes you miss, sometimes you score. Rashidi has been one of the greatest strikers ever I have played with. May his soul rest in peace."

Siasia continued: "My downtimes? First was when I didn't pass the ball to Rashidi Yekini and they had to kick me out of the team and I had to hustle myself back into the team. Trying times are always there to make you stronger.

"A lot of people talked about why I didn't pass the ball to Rashidi Yekini. The one I passed to him he couldn't even score too, so things happen, we don't take it personal."

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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