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Yakubu Aiyegbeni omits Yekini, Mikel, and Osimhen from his all-time Super Eagles XI

Former Super Eagles striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni has revealed his greatest-ever Nigeria starting eleven, notably excluding Rashidi Yekini, John Obi Mikel, and current forward Victor Osimhen. The selection, shared in a video on the official Super Eagles X account, features Vincent Enyeama in goal, with a defense comprising Bright Osayi-Samuel, Joseph Yobo, Danny Shittu, and Celestine Babayaro. Sunday Oliseh and Austin “Jay-Jay” Okocha form the central midfield, while Julius Aghahowa and Finidi George are on the wings. Yakubu partnered himself with Nwankwo Kanu in attack. Osayi-Samuel is the sole representative from the current generation, with the rest of the team drawn from Nigeria's celebrated 1990s and 2000s sides. Yakubu's previous stance that Oliseh was a superior midfielder to Mikel helps explain Mikel's absence, despite his 2013 Nations Cup win and extensive Premier League career. Yekini's omission is highlighted as a significant exclusion, given his status as Nigeria's second-highest all-time goalscorer behind Osimhen, and his record of 13 Nations Cup goals.