Yobo is amongst the former Nigerian players who have gained incredible amounts of experience playing for the national team. Capped over 100 times for the Super Eagles, he represented his country at three FIFA World Cups and six Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournaments during his illustrious career, spending some of that time as captain.
After making the move permanently to Everton in 2003, Yobo quickly became one of the most consistent players on the squad. He was one of only seven players in the league to play every minute of every game in the 2006-07 season, along with team-mate Joleon Lescott. Yobo became the record appearance holder for an overseas player at Everton in April 2007, having played with the team since 2002, and he held this distinction until early 2012.
Yobo’s wife, Adaeze Igwe, is a former winner of the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria pageant. They met and married just three months later in a midnight ceremony in Jos. Yobo and Igwe has a son, Joey Yobo, in April 2010. Igwe is the stepdaughter of former football player, John Fashanu.
In July 2008, Norum Yobo was kidnapped in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria and held for ransom for 12 days, before eventually being released on July 17. He was taken at gunpoint along with three other men on July 5, 2008, while making his way home from a nightclub.
Yobo has been capped 101 times for the Nigerian national team, representing his country since his debut in 1998. This makes him the record appearance holder alongside former goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, who equalled his tally before retiring. Yobo assumed the captaincy of the team after the 2010 FIFA World Cup following the international retirement of Nwankwo Kanu.
After losing to France 2-0 in the round of 16 of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, a game which saw Nigeria’s exit and an own goal by Yobo, the team captain announced his international retirement following his 100th appearance. In an interview with BBC Sport, Yobo said, “This is it. I can look back on my career with great pride. I wanted to leave on a high note for my country. Defeat by France was not the right way to go but I’m happy with all I’ve done for the national team. It’s time to give a chance to other people to come through. Our football has a bright future and I am confident this team can achieve success sooner rather than later.”
Source: FIFA.com
Ray Smith, the landlord who rented a Liverpool flat to Yobo, claims the flat was trashed with burn marks everywhere, the kitchen and bathroom were covered in filth, and there were holes in the walls. The landlord took photos to the newspaper showing the state of the apartment. Yobo denied the reports, claiming his brother Gideon was staying at the apartment. Yobo agreed to pay for anything that was damaged.
The Joseph Yobo Charity Foundation hands out scholarships to Nigerian children, ranging from primary schools to university level, to help promote education and make schooling a possibility for those who would not be able to otherwise afford it. “What I am doing with this foundation is to help people in a similar situation achieve their full potential in whatever they do, and I am proud to be able to help.” Yobo also started a football academy in the Ogoni region of Nigeria, and runs frequent football camps in the country’s capital, Lagos.
Source: News.BBC.co.uk
