Yobo gets assistant Super Eagles job

by Bertin Basson

Thursday Feb 13, 2020. 11:00

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has announced the appointment of Joseph Yobo as the senior national team’s new assistant coach.

According to the NFF’s official website Yobo replaces Imama Amapakabo to become head coach Gernot Rohr’s right-hand man.

A former captain of the Super Eagles, Yobo made 101 appearances for the national team – an all-time record for Nigeria he shares with goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama.

His Super Eagles career started in 2001 and peaked in 2013 when he led the team to the Africa Cup of Nations title in South Africa, while he was also part of Nigeria’s squads at the 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010 AFCONs, as well as the 2002, 2010 and 2014 World Cups.

The NFF describe the former defender as, “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.”

Yobo’s first assignment in his new post will come next month when Nigeria face Sierra Leone in back-to-back 2021 AFCON qualifying matches.