Why I Was Dumped From The Super Eagles – Samson Siasia Finally Reveals Truth

Former Super Eagles coach, Samson Siasia, has opened up about one of the most difficult moments of his career as a player, recalling how he was once dropped from the national team after a costly incident.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Speaking in an interview with Emmanuel Babayaro on UTVAfrica, Siasia narrated that the episode took place during a crucial World Cup qualifier against Ivory Coast in Abidjan.

“It was one of my toughest moments,” he said. “I’m a striker. If it were Rashidi Yekini, he wouldn’t give me that ball either—that’s the truth. Sometimes you score, sometimes you miss. Rashidi was one of the greatest strikers I ever played with. May his soul rest in peace.”

Siasia revealed that his lowest point came when he failed to pass the ball to Yekini, a decision that cost him his place in the team.

“That was the first time I was dropped. They kicked me out, and I had to fight my way back,” he recalled, adding that critics overlooked the many chances he had earlier created for Yekini, which went unconverted.

Turning his attention to today’s Super Eagles, the former coach drew a sharp contrast between his generation and the current squad.

“From 1990 to 1998, we had players who left Nigeria, went to Europe, and returned to represent their country. Now it’s different—we are bringing in Europe-born players who only chose Nigeria because they couldn’t make their first-choice countries,” he argued.

He stressed that many of the current stars—such as Alex Iwobi, William Troost-Ekong, Ademola Lookman, and Ola Aina—were born abroad and joined the Eagles only after missing out on opportunities elsewhere.

“If those players had the chance to play for European nations, they wouldn’t come. We struggled to make it in Europe, but they were born into it,” Siasia concluded.