Former Nigeria star Austin “Jay-Jay” Okocha has called for a major overhaul of the Nigeria Football Federation, arguing that meaningful progress will remain difficult while recommendations from experienced outsiders are dismissed.
Key takeaways
- Okocha believes the NFF needs a fresh framework and administrators capable of making a positive contribution.
- He says former internationals should not be blamed for staying away without considering whether they could build an effective team.
- His brief period leading the Delta State Football Association convinced him that football administration can be deeply frustrating.
- Okocha cited the Super Falcons’ failure to qualify for the next Women’s World Cup as evidence of Nigeria’s declining influence.
- He maintains that the problems are solvable through sound organisation and the appointment of the right personnel.
Okocha questions the cost of getting involved
Responding to demands for ex-internationals to take up roles in football management, Okocha said it was too simplistic to accuse them of lacking interest. He argued that potential candidates must first assess whether they can realistically succeed and whether they have reliable colleagues around them.
In an interview broadcast by Brila FM, he said people in his position could reasonably ask whether taking on such a challenge was worthwhile, what would happen if the project failed, and whether the members of the proposed team shared the same vision. The choice of working partners, he added, would be just as important as the ambition to serve.
Okocha used his own experience at the Delta State Football Association to illustrate those concerns. He became chairman in 2015 but left the role before his term ended after encountering the realities of the administration.
He explained that he had made an attempt to contribute in Delta State, accepted the chairmanship and then withdrew when he understood the situation more clearly. Although he concluded that the experience was not worth continuing, he acknowledged that former players would face public criticism if they remained silent while the sport struggled.
Nigeria’s international standing
The former midfielder connected the weaknesses in football administration with Nigeria’s diminishing profile internationally. He identified the Super Falcons’ absence from the forthcoming Women’s World Cup as the clearest recent illustration of that decline.
Okocha said success would make many of these challenges easier to manage, but Nigeria’s absence from the tournament meant the country risked being overlooked. Instead of the national team’s achievements driving attention, Nigerians were now relying on the performances of players representing their European clubs — a situation he said should normally be reversed.
Despite his criticism, Okocha believes the situation can be corrected. He described the required changes as practical rather than complicated: establish a solid system, appoint people who can bring genuine value and recognise that everyone connected with Nigerian football has a part to play.
