Sports
Stop Looking For The Next Jay-jay, Okocha Urges Nigerians
Former Super Eagles captain Austin Okocha has stated that the Nigerian obsession with finding a new ‘Jay-Jay’ has to stop.
The same position was echoed by his World Cup teammate Mutiu Adepoju, who has said that there is too much pressure on the national team’s young players.
The 47-year-old Okocha, who retired in 2008, admitted to news men recently that the lack of creative midfielders is holding the current Super Eagles squad back. He however asked that players should be allowed to develop and be themselves.
“We should support these players and let them flourish on their own instead of unfairly putting them under pressure by calling them the next this or that,” said Okocha.
“I think people need to stop the obsession with that new Jay-Jay label because it’s unfair on these young players.”
In recent years Under-17 World Cup winners Rabiu Ibrahim and Kelechi Nwakali, Joel Obi and Alex Iwobi have all been hailed as a successor to Okocha in the Nigerian midfield that many believe lacks flair and creative verve.
Okocha made his debut for Nigeria against the Ivory Coast in 1993, before going onto win Olympic gold three years later and then become the first Nigerian to play in three World Cups in 1994, 1998 and 2002.
The former Bolton, Hull City and PSG midfielder is regarded as one of the finest players to have emerged from the West African nation and his talent saw him win twice crowned the BBC African Footballer of the Year.
Midfielder Adepoju, who also participated in three World Cups with the Super Eagles, agreed that the local media and fans are guilty of putting too much pressure and spotlight on the young players.
“I believe calling young players in the youth teams as next Messi or Jay-Jay Okocha is unfair and unnecessary,” Adepoju who turned 50 this week reportedly said.
“Indulging in this comparison is setting them up for failure because the weight of expectations will definitely affect these players mentally.
“It’s the main reason some players refused to work hard and be themselves because they easily get carried away by what the press was writing about them.”
He says that he has seen plenty of younger talent that has not made the step-up to senior level over the last ten years.
“We’ve seen in the past decade that we have talented players all over the field, who can make our team tick again,” he explained.
Young basketball players have been urged not to sacrifice their education for sporting ambitions, as stakeholders at the third Elevate Basketball Clinic stressed the need for young athletes to develop both on and off the court.
The call was the thematic preoccupation of the clinic held on Saturday at the Rowe Park Sports Centre, Yaba, Lagos, where hundreds of participants were taken through basic basketball skills and drills.
The third edition of the clinic, organised by Elevate Basketball Academy in partnership with the Lagos State Basketball Association, brought together hundreds of youngsters, mostly under the age of 16.
Founder and sponsor of the clinic, Akinwande Oshodi, said the initiative was designed to use basketball as a vehicle for youth empowerment while helping participants understand the values required to succeed in life.
“The end game is to elevate basketball and it’s about empowering the youth through basketball. It’s not just about the game, it’s about life, helping the students to understand what it takes to be successful,” Oshodi said.
Oshodi, who is Lagos-born but based in the United States, also disclosed plans to establish a foundation focused on basketball and athletics while creating opportunities for educational enrichment.
“This year, we are planning on tracking statistics so we can share with our sponsors what we have been doing over the last three years,” he added.
Oshodi’s mother, Bosede Ode, a sports nurse who worked with the Lagos State Government at Rowe Park, also stressed the importance of combining sporting development with academic pursuits.
“I’m very encouraged that more girls are in sports than what it used to be. I just want to encourage them to focus on not just sports but their education as well,” Ode said.
Ode said her son’s experience had reinforced the importance of education, recalling that an injury prevented him from pursuing basketball professionally but that his education had helped him build a life beyond the sport.
“I always tell my son about the importance of education, he had an injury which prevented him from playing professionally, but with education, that is helping him through life and giving back to the society. When he was small, he played basketball through school and I’ve always encouraged him,” she added.
The message was also reflected in the experience of one of the participants, Abdulkareem Abdulraheem, who attended the clinic for the second consecutive year.
Abdulraheem said the progress he observed among participants compared to last year had motivated him to keep improving, adding that he also makes time for his academics despite training regularly.
“The motivation is high. Last year I saw some people that were learning how to bounce the ball. This year, I’m seeing people play more and that is motivating me to never give up,” he said.
“For me, I train like three times a week and I make enough time for my academics as well, and that is one of the teachings of this clinic.”
Coordinator Gbade Olatona said the initiative was also aimed at using basketball to nurture discipline, leadership and responsible citizenship among young people.
Since its launch in 2024, the initiative has sought to position basketball as more than a competitive sport, using the game as a platform for mentorship, character development and creating opportunities for young people.
Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets will miss both the 2027 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2027 FIFA U-17 World Cup after they were eliminated from the 2026 WAFU-B U-17 Championship following a 1-1 draw with Ivory Coast in Ouagadougou on Saturday.
The result in their second Group B match at the Stade du 4 Août left the five-time world champions bottom of the table with a solitary point from two games, ending their hopes of qualification.
The Golden Eaglets needed a victory after losing 2-1 to Niger Republic in their opening match last Wednesday, but they could not find the result required to stay alive in the competition.
Nigeria fell behind in the 16th minute when Alex Fousseni scored for Ivory Coast, leaving head coach Eboboritse Uwejamomere’s side with an uphill task.
The young Nigerians continued to push for an equaliser and were rewarded in the 84th minute, when Abiodun John levelled the scores to set up a tense finish. Despite their late efforts, they could not find a winner.
Niger Republic finished top of Group B with four points, while Ivory Coast took second place with two points.
The failure to progress means Nigeria will miss the U-17 AFCON for the third consecutive edition, having also failed to qualify for the 2025 and 2026 tournaments, both hosted by Morocco. The North African country will also host the 2027 edition.
The disappointment extends to the global stage, as the team will miss the FIFA U-17 World Cup for the fourth consecutive edition. The Golden Eaglets last took part in the tournament in 2019.
Former Ajax defender Frank de Boer has urged supporters to be patient with Super Eagles striker Tolu Arokodare, saying the forward should simply be allowed to play.
De Boer was speaking about the early excitement around the Nigerian at Ajax. He did not compare Arokodare to Marco van Basten or Patrick Kluivert. He used the two former Ajax strikers as an example of how Dutch fans tend to judge every new forward.
“We are used to comparing a striker to Van Basten and Kluivert, but I have also seen a few times that he is technically gifted and that you can make very good use of him. I have seen some great things. So just let him play,” De Boer told Tidesports source, via Ajax Showtime.
Arokodare joined Ajax from Wolverhampton Wanderers in the summer on a season-long loan with an option to buy, after a difficult spell in the Premier League.
He has scored seven goals and provided two assists in 11 appearances across all competitions, despite starting only six of those games.
The 25-year-old played the full 90 minutes of Ajax’s UEFA Conference League game away to Hajduk Split on Thursday but did not score.
De Boer, who played for Ajax and the Netherlands, also said the club could get more from Arokodare by delivering crosses from the flanks, which would suit his game in the penalty area.