Why I Had Problems With Clemens Westerhof
OpenLife Nigeria reports that after three decades, Samson Siasia, an ex Nigerian striker, has further opened up on what transpired on the field of play during Nigeria’s qualifying matches for the USA 1994 World Cup.
Though the information has been in the public space, the former Super Eagles coach gave deeper details on what happened between himself, the then Super Eagles coach, Clemens Westerhof and Nigeria’s highest scorer of all times, Rashidi Yekini.
Reflecting on the issue, Siasia explained that he was kicked outout of Super Eagles at that time for not passing ball to Yekini.
According to him, it was one of the most difficult moments of his football career.
Siasia said that it was simply because he refused to pass the ball to his teammate, Rashidi Yekini that saw him temporarily dropped from the team.
Siasia, who won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations with the Super Eagles, told Emmanuel Babayaro on UTVAfrica that it was normal for him not to pass the ball to Yekini, insisting that the striker failed to utilise earlier chances he had created.
He disclosed that it was during a 1994 World Cup qualifier with Nigeria playing against Ivory Coast at Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Abidjan.
Siasia preferred to shoot instead of passing to the better-positioned Yekini.
Then national team boss, Clemens Westerhof saw this as a selfish display and dropped Siasia from his squad.
“I am a striker. Rashidi Yekini won’t give me that ball if it was him, that’s the truth,” he said.
“Sometimes you miss, sometimes you score. Rashidi has been one of the greatest strikers ever I have played with. May his soul rest in peace.
“My downtimes? First was when I didn’t pass the ball to Rashidi Yekini and they had to kick me out of the team and I had to hustle myself back into the team. Trying times are always there to make you stronger.
“A lot of people talked about why I didn’t pass the ball to Rashidi Yekini. The one I passed to him he couldn’t even score too, so things happen, we don’t take it personal.”
At that time, Siasia’s action generated heat in the football circle.
“I swear, I did not see Yekini, “ was the screamer headline in the sports page of Daily Times back then, apparently referring to Siasia.
Reacting, a football enthusiast, Banire Ola Ibrahim, explained that the world cup qualifier was played at the Felix Houphouét Boigny stadium in 1993.
“I was at the stadium then, the match ended 2-1 against Nigeria the match would have ended 2-2.
“But Rashid yekini missed the goal as he was about to score the goal his boot was removed from his legs.”
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