Former Super Eagles midfielder Sunday Oliseh and striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni opened up about being betrayed by former teammates and coach Festus Onigbinde

The 2002 FIFA World Cup is remembered in Nigeria for all the wrong reasons, and two men who lived through it, Sunday Oliseh and Yakubu Aiyegbeni, have now opened up on their bitter exclusions.

Speaking on Oliseh’s “Global Football Insights” podcast, the pair revisited the painful chapter, pointing fingers at internal betrayal and controversial decisions by then-coach Festus Adegboye Onigbinde.

Oliseh opens up on betrayal and ‘destruction of the Super Eagles’

For Oliseh, the pain of missing out on Korea/Japan 2002 ran deeper than personal and professional disappointment.

The former Super Eagles captain revealed that after leading Nigeria through a gruelling qualification campaign, one that involved working closely with Stephen Keshi, Shuaibu Amodu, and Joe Erico, he felt robbed when Onigbinde left him out of the final squad.

“When I didn’t go to the 2002 World Cup, in my whole lifetime, I never felt more betrayed than that moment,” Oliseh confessed.

He went on to allege that the decision was orchestrated in collaboration with the sports ministry, accusing some fellow players of siding with the authorities to destabilise the team.

For him, it was not just about missing a tournament, it marked the breaking point of a once-cohesive Super Eagles. “That was where the destruction of the Super Eagles started,” Oliseh declared, describing the episode as the ultimate betrayal that erased the sacrifices of those who had fought to qualify.

Aiyegbeni slams Onigbinde over World Cup exclusion

Yakubu Aiyegbeni, whose goals were crucial in the qualification journey, echoed Oliseh’s frustration with his own experience under Onigbinde.

The striker recalled the absurdity of being asked by the coach during training camp in London what position he played, despite his established role as a forward who had scored decisive goals in Sudan to secure Nigeria’s ticket.

“In training in London, Onigbinde the coach was asking me, ‘What position do you play?’. Me, who qualified Nigeria for the World Cup… in training I would train for only five minutes, and training is done. I knew already there was no chance I was going to the World Cup,” Aiyegbeni lamented.

His exclusion, alongside several other proven qualifiers, added to the sense of injustice that surrounded Nigeria’s preparation.

In hindsight, both men believe the controversial squad overhaul not only robbed Nigeria of its best chance at the tournament but also triggered a long decline in the national team’s fortunes.