Former Super Eagles captain Jay-Jay Okocha has criticised the administration of Nigerian football, saying the national team still lacks basic structures such as a permanent campsite while players sometimes have to fight for unpaid bonuses.
Okocha made the remarks during an interview on the Obi One Podcast, where he described the situation as frustrating and unnecessary.
Okocha Laments Poor Football Structure
The football legend said Nigeria’s national team continues to face avoidable administrative problems, including unpaid player bonuses and outstanding hotel bills.
“In a nation like Nigeria, we don’t have any campsite for the national team. Sometimes we’ll be owing hotels. You see players fighting during tournaments for their bonuses. Come on. It’s amateur,” Okocha said.
He argued that the problems are not beyond the country’s ability to solve, but are largely the result of poor planning and administration.
“These things can be fixed, and that’s the annoying part of it because it’s not rocket science. It’s just to put the good structure in place, get people that can add value,” he said.
Okocha Worried Over World Cup Absence
Okocha also expressed concern about Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, saying the absence could affect the international visibility of Nigerian players.
“World Cup is coming and we’re not taking part. If not that maybe our names have gone beyond borders, nobody will remember us, because Nigeria is not taking part,” he said.
The Super Eagles failed to qualify for the tournament, which is being hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Former Players Should Have Role in Administration
Okocha further called for experienced former footballers to be given opportunities to contribute to football administration.
He said former players understand the game from a different perspective and should not be dismissed simply because they previously played professionally.
The former captain’s comments have renewed attention on the structure of Nigerian football, particularly the management of the Super Eagles and the conditions provided for national team players.
