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The Super Eagles
are not one of the favourites for the World Cup but the team’s leading
marksman, Aiyegbeni Yakubu, believes he has the ability to emerge the
competition’s highest goal scorer, and win the Golden Boot.

FIFA have always
accorded recognition to the World Cup’s top goal-scorer since the
tournament’s debut in 1930, but it wasn’t until the Espana ‘82 that the
Golden Boot award, donated by Adidas, was handed out to whoever emerged
as the top marksman.

Italy’s Paolo Rossi
won it in 1982 ,while Miroslav Klose of Germany claimed the honour at
the last tournament in 2006. Yakubu now hopes to be the next recipient
of the award that has also been claimed in the past by the likes of
England’s Gary Lineker and legendary Brazilian, Ronaldo.

Speaking on Everton
TV, the Nigerian international, who believes South Africa 2010 will
smash the 147 goals record set at Germany 2006, said: “It is
unbelievable when you hear how many goals were scored but I think there
will be more goals this summer because every country and every player
has improved. The strikers aren’t the only ones who can score goals too
because they can come from midfield and defence. I think there will be
more goals in this World Cup. I would love to be the top scorer. For me
as a striker I want to score goals in a World Cup. It won’t be easy but
I believe in myself.”

Pele’s prediction

Brazilian football
legend Pele, predicted many years ago, that a team from the continent
would win the tournament by 2010. That prediction doesn’t look likely
to come to pass in South Africa as the Super Eagles and the continent’s
other five representatives are not considered among the favourites for
the big prize.

“As a player you
have to believe, and for me I still believe that an African country
will win the World Cup,” said Yakubu. “I don’t know when that will be,
I don’t know if it will be this year or in four years time. I still
believe though that an African nation will win it.”

Expectations

Africa’s best
performance at the World Cup has been quarter final appearances by
Cameroon, in 1990, and Senegal, in 2002. There are great expectations
that a team from Africa will make it to the semi finals, and Yakubu
hopes that playing on African soil will go a long way in making that
dream a reality.

“I think the
African nations have an advantage because there will be a lot of
African people packing the stadiums,” he said. “Hopefully their support
can give us something extra against the other countries. However the
other teams are used to that pressure so the African players have to
give it their best and make our countries proud. We are going to give
it our best and make the people back home happy.”

Decade long career

Yakubu has been
synonymous with the Super Eagles since making his debut in a World Cup
qualifier against Eritrea in April 2000. Ten years later, and with 54
caps to his credit, as well as 20 international goals, the 27-year-old
still derives plenty of joy appearing in the green and white of Nigeria.

“For me, when I am called to play for my country, I enjoy it,” he
said. “I enjoy playing and being part of the team. As a football player
you want to play for your country and it fills you with pride. For me,
my memories of being with the national team have been good and
hopefully we can continue that at this World Cup.”