The decision to send three players home from the camp of the Super Eagles to the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia on account of breaching the disciplinary code of the team.
Chelsea defender Celestine Babayaro, Portsmouth striker Yakubu Aiyegeni and Schalke’s Victor Agali were the three players sent home from the camp of the team in an announcement made by then secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) late chief Taiwo Ogunjobi.
Nigeria were preparing at their Monastir base for their second match of the tournament against South Africa.
“They did not respect the rules of the camp, they were supposed to be in quarters with the rest of the squad,” Taiwo Ogunjobi, general secretary of the Nigerian Football Association, told L’Equipe.
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“They only returned to the hotel this Friday morning
“We have informed the team through the captain, Jay-Jay Okocha, and have received the approval of the sports minister and it was decided that discipline must be maintained and the players involved leave the camp immediately.”
Twenty years on from the incident, Victor Agali has now decided to open up on what led to their exit saying lies were told by some members of the NFF for them to be kicked out from the camp.
“We didn’t take any women to our hotels, we were only having a few drinks at the bar. I remember years later Taiwo Ogunjobi of blessed memory, called me to apologize for what happened”, he told Brila FM.
“NFF Officials lied about what happened in Tunisia, I was kicked out of the Super Eagles on false allegations. The officials, had the press at their disposal and would often use them to put out all sorts of narratives. They didn’t care how if affected the player’s, as long as it’s in line with their agenda”.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
