'it Still Haunts Me' - Okocha Issues Warning To Super Eagles Stars Lookman And Osimhen
Nigeria football legend Austin 'Jay Jay' Okocha has issued a heartfelt warning to current Super Eagles stars, including Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, as the team risks missing another FIFA World Cup-just as it did under his captaincy nearly 20 years ago.
Okocha, who led Nigeria in 2005, still carries the pain of failing to qualify for the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Despite boasting one of Africa's strongest squads then, the Super Eagles lost their spot to Angola, falling short in a crucial qualifier in Kano.
Is this a repeat of 2006?Fast forward to today, and Nigeria's 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign is in similar danger. The Super Eagles sit fourth in Group C, trailing behind South Africa, Benin, and Rwanda, with only seven points from six games-a historically poor return for a nation that has qualified six times since its debut at USA '94.
With world-class talent across the pitch, including Lookman the reigning African Player of the Year, Osimhen the 2023 winner, Alex Iwobi, Ola Aina, and Victor Boniface, the current crop was expected to dominate after reaching the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final. Instead, they're fighting to avoid another heartbreak.
As the pressure mounts, the question remains: Will history repeat itself, or will the Super Eagles rise and reclaim their place on football's biggest stage?