In a no-holds-barred assessment that has ignited fervent debate across Nigerian football circles, former Super Eagles striker and Premier League icon Yakubu Aiyegbeni has delivered a stark critique of the national team's current setup, pinpointing a glaring lack of creativity in midfield as the root cause of their attacking frustrations. Speaking candidly on the Sunday Oliseh Podcast aired on November 30, 2025, the 43-year-old Yakubu – Nigeria's fourth all-time leading scorer with 21 goals in 58 caps – declared that even he would falter as a forward in the present squad, burdened by an overreliance on defensive midfielders and a dearth of inventive playmakers.
Yakubu's comments come in the wake of the Super Eagles' heartbreaking 1-0 extra-time defeat to DR Congo in the 2026 FIFA World Cup playoff second leg on November 20, 2025, at the Stade des Martyrs in Kinshasa. The loss – which saw Nigeria eliminated from the global showpiece for the first time since 2018 despite a 2-0 first-leg advantage – exposed tactical vulnerabilities that have plagued Finidi George's side throughout the qualifiers. With just 11 points from 10 Group C matches, the Eagles finished third behind South Africa (17 points) and Benin Republic (14 points), their campaign marred by draws against lesser sides and a failure to convert dominance into goals.
"We’re just a little bit short in the midfield, that’s the most important thing now because we don’t have a creative midfielder who can pass the ball to the strikers," Yakubu stated emphatically during the podcast. "When we look at the team, we have too many defensive midfielders and not many attacking midfielders. If I play in this team, I’ll struggle to score goals. I’m telling you because when you look at Osimhen when he plays, he’s fighting because he knows already."
The ex-Everton and Portsmouth forward, affectionately known as 'Yak Attack' for his predatory instincts that yielded 95 goals in 282 English Premier League appearances, drew stark contrasts to his own era. "Look at the way they score goals in the national team now, and you note that it was quite different in our days. We had players like Sunday Oliseh, Jay-Jay Okocha, Finidi George, and other good passers; but now they don’t have them," he lamented. Yakubu highlighted how the absence of a true No. 10 – a visionary orchestrator capable of unlocking defenses with killer through-balls – has heaped undue pressure on star striker Victor Osimhen, whose five goals in the qualifiers (including a brace against Gabon) masked deeper systemic issues.
Despite the criticism, Yakubu was quick to praise individual standouts, naming Osimhen as "Nigeria’s best player" for his relentless work rate and aerial dominance, alongside Fulham's Alex Iwobi for his tireless energy, Atalanta's Ademola Lookman for his flair (lamenting that "we didn’t see the best of him" in key games), and Ajax defender Calvin Bassey for his composure at the back. "There have been two or three players that have been really impressive," he noted. "Osimhen has been the number one, and Lookman is another good one. But without creativity behind them, even world-class talents like these will be stifled."
Yakubu's intervention has struck a chord amid a post-mortem period for the three-time African champions, whose World Cup exit has amplified calls for structural reform from fans, analysts, and ex-players. On social media, #SuperEaglesCreativity has trended nationwide, with over 250,000 mentions on X (formerly Twitter) since the podcast's release, including endorsements from Sunday Oliseh himself: "Yakubu nailed it – we need that spark back!" The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has yet to respond formally, but sources indicate that incoming technical director Amaju Pinnick is prioritizing midfield reinforcements ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, where the Eagles are drawn in a tough group alongside hosts Morocco, Egypt, and Cape Verde.
As Nigeria shifts focus to AFCON preparations – with friendlies against Algeria and Tunisia slated for January 2026 – Yakubu issued a rallying cry for balance and innovation. "This isn’t about blaming individuals; it’s about building a team that plays collectively and creatively. Stop relying on individual brilliance to paper over tactical flaws. With the right adjustments, we can rediscover that Eagles magic and go far in Morocco."
Yakubu, who represented Nigeria at two World Cups (1998 and 2010) and won the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, remains a revered figure in African football. His podcast appearance, hosted by compatriot Sunday Oliseh, has amassed over 1.5 million views on YouTube, underscoring the enduring passion for the Super Eagles among the diaspora.
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