Taye Taiwo opens up on age-cheating claims and alleged twin

Taiwo has spent the last 15 years playing across Europe after joining Marseille from Lobi Stars back in 2005 as a promising 20-year-old.

He quickly established himself at the Ligue 1 giants as a powerful left-wing back with an eye for goal and went on to feature 256 times for the first-team over seven seasons.

He's since represented the likes of AC Milan, Queens Park Rangers and Dynamo Kyiv and amassed 52 caps for the Super Eagles but has often been accused of being overage throughout his career.

Meschack Elia was found guilty of altering his age by one year with a fake passport.

Tobie Mimboe - aged cheated on several occasions before being dubbed Peter Pan.

Carlos Alberto - claimed he was five years younger and won the U20 World Cup with Brazil.

Seuntjie Motlhajwa - born in 1981 but claimed he was born in 1983.

Shiva N'Zigou - The 'youngest scorer' at AFCON admitted he was five-years older during his playing days.

Juan Espinoza - posed as nine years younger with different name and nationality.

Sibusiso Mzizi - used fake passport that meant he started school at the age of two.

Gourav Mukhi - claimed he was 16 but was in fact 28-years-old.

Ex-Free State stars defender Musa Magagula admitted he used his couins identity as Goodman Sauhatsi.

Collins Mbesuma alleged he is one year younger than his reported age.

Reports in England claimed that Taiwo was 'ten years younger' than his 'twin' brother during his time at QPR in 2012 but in a recent interview with former Kick Off journalist Collin Udoh, he's cleared the air on the situation.

"People don't even know the background of someone but they just write what they don't know about," the 35-year-old said on Instagram Live.

"When I was younger my father told me that I was a twin but the second was a girl and we lost her. So how come since Taye Taiwo started playing football, going to the World Cup, and there is no picture of my twin?

"When I was in London, they started doing a joke around. A journalist came to the training ground to ask me if I have a twin. I was like what kind of question is that? I don't have. I was feeling very bad though. But it's a free world."

Taiwo is currently a free agent after leaving Veikkausliiga side RoPS in January and last featured for Nigeria in February 2012.

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