JOSEPH YOBO broke down in tears after Nigeria secured an unlikely qualification to next summer’s World Cup finals.
Yobo’s Everton teammate Yakubu was among the goalscorers as the Super Eagles defied the odds to squeeze past Tunisia and earn their berth.
Nigeria needed to win in Kenya and hope the Tunisians failed to do likewise in their final group game in Mozambique.
Matters did not look encouraging after an hour with Kenya leading 1-0 and Tunisia holding out for a goalless draw.
But a goal from Yakubu and two from former Newcastle United striker Obafemi Martins, the latter putting Nigeria back in the lead with seven minutes remaining, gave Nigeria the win they needed with Tunisia eventually losing 1-0.
Yobo and Yakubu become Everton’s latest likely representatives at the World Cup, with Australia duo Tim Cahill and Lucas Neill, US goalkeeper Tim Howard, South Africa’s Steven Pienaar and John Heitinga of Holland all through.
Of Everton’s other players on duty, John Heitinga played the full game as Holland drew 0-0 with Italy in a friendly, while Marouane Fellaini, despite the ongoing fall-out with Belgium coach Dick Advocaat, played and scored in his country’s 3-0 win against Hungary.
Dan Gosling made his debut for the England Under-21 side as an injury-time substitute in their 1-0 Euro 2011 qualifying victory over Portugal at Wembley, while Seamus Coleman was in action in the same tournament for Republic of Ireland U21s as they drew 1-1 against Georgia.
Liverpool were also represented in the competition, with keeper Peter Gulacsi playing superbly for Hungary in their 2-0 win over Italy.
Liverpool defender, Philipp Degen played for Switzerland but conceded the penalty which allowed Aston Villa’s John Carew to give Norway a 1-0 victory, while Martin Skrtel played from the start as Slovakia scored a 1-0 victory over the USA in Bratislava.
Meanwhile, Javier Mascherano captained Argentina to a 2-1 friendly defeat in Spain, with Pepe Reina appearing as an 89th-minute substitute for Iker Casillas as the latter marked his 100th cap for his country. Xabi Alonso scored both goals for Spain.
