Former Super Eagles striker Samson Siasia has revealed the incident that led to his temporary removal from Nigeria’s national team during his playing days.
Siasia, a member of the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations–winning squad, said he was dropped because he refused to pass the ball to legendary forward Rashidi Yekini during a crucial World Cup qualifier against Ivory Coast in Abidjan.
“I am a striker. Rashidi Yekini won’t give me that ball if it was him, that’s the truth,” Siasia told UTVAfrica.
“Sometimes you miss, sometimes you score. Rashidi has been one of the greatest strikers ever I played with. May his soul rest in peace.”
The former Nantes forward explained that then-coach Clemens Westerhof saw his decision as selfish and left him out of the squad.
Despite the setback, Siasia eventually fought his way back into the team and played a key role in Nigeria’s golden generation of the 1990s.
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