Former Super Eagles captain Austin Jay-Jay Okocha has pinpointed the root cause of Nigeria’s football decline and shared insights on how the national team can rediscover its dominance.
Speaking on Exchange with Femi Soneye, the 52-year-old icon traced the Super Eagles’ struggles back to the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations, when the team was disbanded and rebuilt in haste.
“In my opinion, Nigerian football started declining after the 2002 AFCON. The team was disbanded, and the World Cup squad that followed was the weakest I ever played with,” Okocha said.
He lamented the lack of continuity that previously defined Nigeria’s success, noting that the country once produced smooth transitions between generations of players.
“We don’t win with conviction anymore. Back then, our home was a fortress. Now, we’ve lost that fear factor, nations want to play us.”
Call for structure, Not shortcuts
Okocha stressed that there’s no quick fix to Nigeria’s football challenges. “We need proper structure and time to build. Nigeria will never lack talent, but consistency is missing. The problem isn’t just on the pitch, it’s also off it.”
Despite the setbacks, the former PSG and Bolton midfielder expressed faith in the current squad, backing Eric Chelle’s men to prevail against Gabon in the World Cup playoff.
“I still trust this team. We put ourselves in this situation, and we’re the only ones who can get out of it,” he said.
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