AIYEGBENI :I DID MY BEST FOR EAGLES

Aiyegbeni
Super Eagles' forward, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, has declared that he did his best in the on going South Africa 2010 World Cup, despite failing to score goals that could have prevented Nigeria from being bundled out early in the competition.

Aiyegbeni, who spoke exclusively with Daily Sunsports yesterday moments before the team departed its Protea Hotel, Richards Bay lodge said in the round leather game , it is normal for a striker to through away a begging chance no matter how close.

' I must confess that I feel disappointed myself not scoring when I had only the net to beat in the game against Korea. But the truth is that it happens always in football. You can come very close and yet fail to score. I hope Nigerians will appreciate this fact and forgive me. I came here to score goals, but sometimes things don't go one's way no matter how hard you try.

My thinking is that we were extremely unlucky in this World Cup. If not for ill luck, we would have beaten Greece and secure a second round ticket', Aiyegbeni said. The Everton's forward said the only option open to Nigeria right now was to forget about the World Cup and plan for the future.

'The World Cup is over for us.What we need do now is to put it behind us and plan for the future. It is painful we made an early exit, but if we put our house in order now, we can do better in other competitions.' Yak, who said he is not going to quit Everton since he has another two year contract with the premiership side, said he was prepared to keep fighting for a place in the new Super Eagles, even as he faulted those calling for his head.

'As far as I am concerned, I have always done my best for the country. In Angola, I did my best. I may not have scored goals, but I know the coaches would not have been using me if I was not in good shape.'

Yak , it would be noted , has come under heavy criticism after the Nigeria, Korea's game in Durban. His biggest sin was his failure to convert a 70th minute opportunity with only the yawning net at his mercy.

Retired FIFA badged referee, Bolaji Okubule, who was totally pissed off with the miss told Daily Sunsports that his wife would have scored in that situation. It is generally believed in South Africa that the miss by Aiyegbeni remains the 'best miss' of South Africa 2010.