The former Super Eagles star has told press that
the current national crop need to convince the public that they
care about playing for their national team
Jay-Jay Okocha says that questions will be asked about the
passion of Nigeria’s players following their exit from the Africa
Cup of Nations.
The reigning champions failed to qualify for the 2015 finals
after drawing 2-2 with South Africa in Uyo on Wednesday,
marking a second exit before the tournament proper in three
editions.
And while Stephen Keshi’s future has already been called into
question, Okocha believes the players have to take some of
the responsibility too.
“I think, to be honest, we will always produce talented players.
But perhaps the question is whether they have the same
passion that they used to have,” Okocha told press . “People
are pressuring them about that, you know, because
sometimes it seems as if they don’t really care much about
the result.”
Wednesday’s result combined with Congo’s 1-0 win in Sudan
to extinguish Nigeria’s final hopes, but the 41-year-old said
they had made it very difficult for themselves earlier in the
campaign.
“Of course it was down to our bad spot, even if we were still
in with a chance,” he added. “I think sometimes players must
have a wake-up call before they realise they are back in
African football. They left themselves get into a difficult
position.”
Ironically, Okocha – who won 75 caps for his country –
believes the Super Eagles could have gone on to perform very
well again in the finals in Equatorial Guinea had the qualified
amongst the final 16 teams.
“I have no doubt that had we managed to qualify we would
have had a good tournament, because you have to play really
well once it comes to the tournament itself. The qualifiers are
sometimes a bit tricky here in Africa, so I think if they had
qualified they would have had a good tournament.”
Okocha is currently acting as an ambassador for Western
Union’s ‘Pass for School’ programme which will see funding
made towards better education every time somebody posts an
old photograph of themselves in a childhood sports photo to
Facebook or Twitter using the hashtag #PassForSchool.
He explained: “It is a great initiative, especially since it helps
the less privileged children because we all know how vital
education is. So I’m delighted to be a part of it.