TheCable

Super Eagles captain, Joseph Yobo, has said that discussions about his retirement or reaching the milestone of a century of caps are not his priority for now.

Instead, he is concentrating on leading the Super Eagles to a credible outing at the World Cup 2014.

Speaking with TheCable at the team’s Vitoria Hotel Concept in Campinas, Sao Paulo, the Norwich City defender stated that all he has on his mind is Monday night’s clash with Iran.

“After that match and the other two games in the group, we can see where we are,” he said.

“I understand the apprehension of most Nigerians going by the friendly games, but friendly games are not a good measure of performance; they are meant to just prepare us for the real competition; and trust me, we will give everything we have to make Nigeria proud during the World Cup.”

Yobo praised the coaching crew led by Stephen Keshi, and saying the team is ready for the World Cup.

“We all know what is at stake,” he said. “Once the referee signals the start of the game against Iran, you all will see how fired-up and determined we are. Every other thing takes secondary position.

Yobo also spoke on calls for his retirement, insisting he alone will decide when to quit the national team.

“I am thinking for now only about the World Cup, but no one can decide for me when to retire from international football,” he said.

“After the World Cup, I will take that decision. But I am very sure Nigerians will judge my performance with the World Cup. Like I told you earlier, my priority is playing well at the World Cup with my colleagues; every other thing is secondary, including the 100 caps issue.

“It will be great to reach the 100 caps milestone, but I will not let anything distract me from the most important goal, which is making Nigeria proud at the World Cup.”

Yobo debuted for Nigeria internationally on March 24, 2001, against Zambia in a Nations Cup qualification game. His last game for the Eagles took his international caps to 96 — the most by any Nigerian player.

Should Nigeria reach the knockout phase of the World Cup and should Yobo feature in all the matches, he would have become the first-ever Nigerian player to reach a century of international caps.