The former Super Eagles star has told Goal 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 Goal. “People are pressuring
them about that, you know, because sometimes it seems as if they don’t
really care much about the result.”
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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.”
Goal
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