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Nigeria’s Premier League record scorer returns as Everton defeat Chelsea in style

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Former Super Eagles striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni made a memorable return to Merseyside as Everton cruised to a 3-0 victory over Chelsea in front of their home supporters.

The 43-year-old, fondly called “The Yak”, was warmly received by fans outside the stadium before kick-off. Supporters gathered in large numbers, chanting his famous song, “Feed the Yak and he’ll score”, a clear sign that he still holds a special place in the hearts of the Everton faithful.

Yakubu was not the only notable figure present, as former Italy defender Marco Materazzi also attended, adding a touch of class to the occasion.

  • Victor Osimhen tearsVictor Osimhen tears

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When the game got underway, Everton quickly showed their intent with a dominant display. The breakthrough came in the 33rd minute when Beto calmly finished after being set up by James Garner, beating goalkeeper Robert Sánchez.

Everton stayed in control and doubled their advantage in the 62nd minute, with Beto grabbing his second goal after sliding a low shot through the goalkeeper’s legs.

The home side wrapped up the victory in the 76th minute when Beto turned provider, assisting Iliman Ndiaye, who cut inside before firing a powerful shot into the top corner.

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The result boosted Everton’s position on the table and strengthened their hopes of qualifying for European competition, while Chelsea were left with work to do in their push for a top-four finish.

Yakubu’s lasting Premier League legacy

Yakubu remains one of the most reliable strikers to have played in the Premier League. The former Nigerian international is still the highest-scoring Nigerian in the competition, with 95 goals in 252 appearances.

Before the rise of players like Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mané, Yakubu stood out as one of Africa’s most feared forwards in England, known for his strength, positioning, and finishing ability.

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His time at Everton marked one of the best periods of his career. After joining from Middlesbrough in 2007 for a then club-record fee, he made an immediate impact, scoring on his debut and finishing his first season with 21 goals. That feat made him the first Everton player in over a decade to score 20 or more goals in a single season.

Throughout his career, Yakubu was known for delivering in key moments. He recorded four Premier League hat-tricks and also achieved the rare milestone of scoring four goals in a single match for two different clubs.

Despite facing setbacks, including a serious injury, his legacy remains strong. Yakubu Aiyegbeni is still remembered as a striker defenders feared and fans loved. His return to Merseyside on a day Everton delivered such an impressive performance felt like a perfect tribute to his enduring impact in English football.

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He has just won a T20 World Cup as captain

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Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin reckons that senior Mumbai Indians (MI) batter Suryakumar Yadav might be slightly disappointed at not having been appointed captain of the franchise for IPL 2026. According to Ashwin, India’s T20 World Cup-winning captain would definitely be harboring hope of leading a franchise in the IPL.

Five-time champions MI appointed all-rounder Hardik Pandya as captain for the IPL 2024 season, replacing Rohit Sharma. Under him, Mumbai reached the playoffs last year, but went down to Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Qualifier 2. MI have retained Pandya as captain for the upcoming IPL season, even though they were mixed views among experts over his leadership.

During a discussion on his YouTube show Ash ki baat, Ashwin made a big claim and stated that Suryakumar would have been keen on leading MI. He commented:

“If you individualistically look at this, Surya will be saying, ‘I should also be the captain of an IPL franchise’. I think Surya will be thinking like that. It’s only human to think like that because he has just won a World Cup as a captain. But, for Surya the batter, it is just let loose and enjoy. Last year also he had a pretty decent time.”

Sharing his personal views on MI’s captaincy, Ashwin opined that Suryakumar should have been handed over the reins of the franchise. He commented:

“In my view, Suryakumar Yadav being the captain of Mumbai Indians is a no-brainer. He should be given the captaincy. And the fact that that is not happening, I am sure, is a bit of a concern.”

Suryakumar impressed as captain as India won T20 World Cup 2026, losing only one game. The 35-year-old, however, disappointed with the bat, scoring 242 runs in nine innings at an average of 30.25 and a strike rate of 136.72.


“A lot of things can go through his mind” – R Ashwin on challenge for Hardik Pandya as MI captain

Sharing his thoughts on Pandya as captain, Ashwin opined that he has the credentials to be a good leader. He pointed out to the all-rounder’s impressive record as Gujarat Titans (GT) skipper. The former cricketer, however, added that Pandya has had to face multiple challenges since taking over as MI captain, which have made things tough for him. He elaborated:

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“If we look at Hardik Pandya, as the Gujarat Titans’ captain, had a title in his first season and was a runner-up in the second season. When he came to Mumbai, the expectation was that he will be the captain and continue the trend. But it took him a year to handle Rohit Sharma and all those sagas.

“Now, he is having to compete with this lot of people telling him that Suryakumar Yadav is the incumbent Indian team captain, but Hardik is the captain of Mumbai. It is a very challenging thing. A lot of things can go through his mind.” Ashwin concluded.

MI will begin their IPL 2026 campaign with a match against three-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday, March 29.