We lost our fear factor — Okocha reveals when Super Eagles problems started

Nigerian football legend JJ Okocha traced the problem of the national team to its roots.

Super Eagles legend JJ Okocha traced the decline of the Nigerian national team to the 2002 World Cup, explaining that the country lost its fear factor in football from that point on. 

At the 1994 World Cup, Nigeria were ranked 5th in the world and were one of the best teams in the world. They had a dominant period in the years after, with Okocha at the heart of it. Nigeria now rank 41st in the world, and risk missing consecutive World Cups 

Okocha believes the decline began after the 2002 AFCON, when the team was disbanded and poorly reassembled for that year’s World Cup, which the Super Eagles struggled to qualify for.

What Okocha said 

Okocha was asked to diagnose the problem of the Super Eagles, and he mentioned the lack of consistency. More interestingly, he traced the problem back to the 2002 World Cup team, which he captained. 

“Well, I think it's a lack of consistency. In my opinion, Nigerian football started declining after the 2002 African Nations Cup,” he said.

“The team was disbanded, and then some of us were recalled, but I think the squad that we went to the World Cup with in 2002 was maybe the weakest that I played with.

“In the previous World Cups, we made it out of our groups; maybe we topped the group, but in 2002, we didn't even come out of our group. So, that transition didn't happen as it normally would.

Okocha explained that the team at the time lacked synergy, as the transition from old to new was not done properly; hence, the Super Eagles lost their fear factor, and the effect is still being felt today. 

“Before then, we had players who would have been in the national team for years, and then they'd retire and others took over from them. But the transition didn't happen because of the separation, and then about 70% of the team left.”

“So, I think from then onwards, we've had great players who have won tournaments, but that consistency is lacking. We don't win games with conviction anymore.

“It happens now and then, but then, at least in our home, back then, there were no questions; no matter who you were, it was a matter of how many.

“So, we made our home our fortress, but now, it's like we're weaker at home. We've lost that fear factor. Nations used to be scared to play against Nigeria. Now, people want to play against us.

Asked how the problem can be fixed, Okocha insisted that the administrators must commit to a long-term plan, as short-term fixes would not suffice. He wants to see a proper structure put in place, including the administration of the team. 

“Putting a proper structure in place and then making sure it works,” he continued. “We always believe in a quick fix, but in football, there's no quick fix. That's why it's a team game, and you need time to build a team.

“Nigeria can never lack talent because of our population; we'll always produce good players because of our population. We have a good squad now, but why are we not consistent? Why are we not winning back-to-back games?

“I don't think it's just the players. It might be other things off the pitch, because you have to prepare before you get on to the pitch.”