Former Super Eagles captain, Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha, has urged Nigerians to rally behind the newly appointed head coach, Eric Chelle, emphasizing the importance of securing a spot in the 2026 World Cup.
Despite previous reports suggesting Okocha’s opposition to the appointment of Chelle, the former Paris Saint-Germain and Bolton Wanderers midfielder clarified his stance during an interview on Lagos Talks FM.
Okocha emphasized that the decision to appoint Chelle was made by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), and the results under his leadership will ultimately determine whether the decision was the right one.
“The decision to appoint the new coach was that of the NFF,” Okocha stated. “We should give him a chance to do his job. We should support him as well as the NFF and hopefully we will be at the World Cup”
Okocha, a passionate advocate for the Super Eagles’ success, highlighted the collective benefit of the team’s qualification. “We all want the team to qualify for the World Cup because we all benefit when they are doing well,” he said.
The former captain acknowledged the high stakes surrounding Chelle’s tenure, noting that football is ultimately a results-driven business. “This is a results business. If we don’t qualify, God forbid, he will be the first to know he has failed,” Okocha added.
Nigeria will clash against Rwanda and Zimbabwe in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in March. Currently, Nigeria is fifth on the log with three points.
