Nigerian football legend Jay-Jay Okocha has sparked controversy by labeling the 2002 Super Eagles squad as the weakest team he ever played for, tracing the country’s football decline to the disbandment of the team after the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Mali.
In a candid interview on “The Exchange” Podcast with Femi Soneye, Okocha said:
“Nigerian football started declining after the 2002 Nations Cup.”
“The team was disbanded, and some of us were later recalled. But, honestly, the squad that went to the World Cup that year was the weakest I ever played in.”
Okocha attributed the team’s poor performance to the abrupt overhaul, which saw almost 70% of the best players dropped, affecting the team’s standard and structure.
“The transition wasn’t smooth… After that disbandment, we lost our identity. Our home stopped being a fortress. Opponents no longer feared us. The Super Eagles lost the fear factor,” he added.
The full episode of “The Exchange” Podcast featuring Okocha’s explosive revelations is now available on Spotify and YouTube – The Exchange With Femi Soneye, offering fans a deeper insight into the thoughts of the Nigerian football icon.
Okocha’s critical remarks coincide with the Super Eagles’ ongoing struggles, particularly the recent 1-1 draw against South Africa.
This poor result has left Nigeria precariously close to missing two consecutive World Cups—a historical low for the nation.
The disappointing outcome has triggered significant fan outrage.
Leading the charge is popular Afrobeat artist Odumodublvck, who fiercely criticized the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), labeling the organization as “terrible” and accusing it of causing suffering to Nigerians through its mismanagement of the national team.
“NFF is a terrible organisation. Back-to-back World Cups. It’s a total disgrace. It’s wicked people that fill this country up, I swear. The one thing that gives your people joy, you are making them suffer, you are bad people,” Odumodublvck wrote on social media.
Social media users have also highlighted the personal cost to Nigeria’s star players, noting that key figures may miss their prime years without World Cup experience.
“By 2030, Osimhen will be 31 years old, Lookman will be 32 years old, Ola Aina will be 33 years old, and Calvin Bassey will be 30 years old without ever kicking a ball in the World Cup. That’s how bad the NFF has robbed them,” Inioluwa Nuel wrote on X.
Some fans have called for the NFF to be overhauled, while others have urged the federation to start planning for the 2030 World Cup.
“It’d take a miracle to qualify for the World Cup now. I’d like to applaud everyone at the NFF for all the good calls they made from the start of the World Cup qualifiers till date. Utter disgrace,” @AJSilverCFC said on X.
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