Nigerians Continue To Claim Yakubu

Lamentations As Ghanaians Admit Yakubu Is A Nigerian

ONE of the most popular stories in the Bible is that of the prodigal son who after wasting his father's resources in a foreign land, returned to a sumptuous feast in his father's palace.

A certain fun-loving young man insisted that his father gave him his share of the wealthy man's estate.

The old man complied and his extravagant son went to catch some fun in a foreign land.

After a while, the young man got broke and believing that his father will not accept him back went into begging and at a point feeding from the refuse bin.

The rest is history as the young man decided to go back home after several years of waste.

On returning, the king threw a lavish party, a development that provoked his other son who had been with him all the while.

"Dad, why is it that I've been with you all these years yet you have not deemed it right to organise such a feast for me, now this your son who lavished your money has returned and you are celebrating?" the aggrieved son asked.

His father replied;"You have been with me all the while, but this your brother had been aware. We thought he was dead, now he is alive so we should celebrate."

At the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) Glass House today, there should be some celebration.

Reason: Reports from Ghana indicated that Ajax Amsterdam's defensive midfielder Abubakari Yakubu listed as a Ghanaian is a Nigerian in the Dutch club.

This is an apparent response to the question posed in The Guardian of Wednesday, April 16, "Abubakari Yakubu. Could this Ghanaian in Ajax be a Nigeria?"

Ghanaians are said to be celebrating the rise of this 21-year-old who was recently listed by FIFA as one of the brightest young stars in Europe.

After The Guardian poser, a report on Ghana's website had confirmed that Yakubu is a Nigerian.

The Ghanaians couldn't have thought otherwise because prior to Yakubu's exploits in Ajax, there was nothing tracing him to the West African country.

It was also gathered that Ghana FA were nursing plans of extending a national team invitation to the player before the recent developments.

Emmanuel Quarshie, a Ghanaian trader at Alaba International Market, Lagos said "you have really broken our heart. The last time I went home (two weeks ago), this boy's name was on everybody's lips. I must confess that nobody in Ghana knew his past so they were wondering where he hails from. We were all looking forward to his wearing our national colours soon."

According to Quarshie, Yakubu could have made up his mind to play for Nigeria from the beginning.

"The delay in his being capped by Ghana has been linked to his not being keen on such an invitation. Now, I know why he never expressed enthusiasm at playing for Ghana. I have no doubt he is a Nigerian," said Quarshie.

Then Qurshie joked: "You people already have good defensive midfieldrs like Christian Obodo and Justice Christopher coming up, why not leave Yakubu for us (Ghana)? But I tell you, not many will be happy on the streets of Accra now."

Question marks over Yakubu's nationality were raised when one Femi Famoyin who claimed to have known the big player before he left Nigeria brought it to The Guardian's cognisance.

Yakubu was said to have travelled to Europe using a Ghanaian passport, a scheme initiated by his Ghanaian manager. His availability for selection in the Nigeria national team has increased the competition for places in the defensive midfield position.

Already, the likes of Obodo ,Azubuike Oliseh, Seyi Olofinjana and Karibe Ojigwe have been active all season just as Bulgaria-based Christopher has an advantage of having played in the World Cup.

It is, however, yet to be known if the player who was dominant in Ajax's midfield against AC Milan in the champions league last week would be immediately invited to the national team since Obodo, who had been on the queue before him, is yet to be capped.

Nevertheless, the celebration at the Glass House may not be for the likes of Obodo who had been certified a Nigerian long before now but for the "lost but found" Yakubu.