OKOCHA: Eagles have disappointed us a lot

Former Super Eagles captain, Austin Okocha has said that he was deeply worried with the performance of the national team, which he noted has been very worrisome and disappointing in recent times. For a player who used to run the rules in the midfield during his active days for nation, this damming verdict comes at a time that Nigerians are
increasingly losing faith in the Eagles.

Recent 1-0 defeat by Uganda in Uyo and a 1-1 draw with South Africa in Nelspruit had seen many stakeholders calling for an emergency to be declared on Nigerian football. And speaking in an interview with Saturday Vanguard Sports, the former Bolton Wanderers talisman said the NFF must start the rebuilding process for the Eagles quickly by appointing a coach for the Super Eagles.

Okocha, while responding to what he made of the players, who were invited for the two past friendly matches and what he made of the rebuilding process, said “I think we have to start from somewhere because we have been so disappointed with our team’s performance lately.

People might differ with the way things are being done but it is important that the football federation speeds up the process because we are deeply worried and do not deserve these performances”.

Reacting to the issue of coach for the team, Okocha, while refusing to comment on speculations that Keshi will be given a short-term contract by the NFF, said that whoever becomes the next coach of the team must get cracking ahead of the 2017 African Cup of Nations in Gabon.

Nigeria are in Group G alongside Egypt, Tanzania and Chad, with the first placed side qualifying automatically for the tournament while the two best second placed teams from the 13 groups will join the rest and the hosts in the biennial competition.

“I think that the incoming coaches have to start working as soon as they are employed because they are getting paid to handle the team and win matches. Besides, the challenges on the ground are such that any coach appointed must get cracking from the very first day”.

Speaking further on the rebuilding process, Okocha said “we all have our perceptions on the rebuilding process but if they think the way forward is to keep inviting new players for matches, so be it. But the bottom-line is that the coaches must get the best out of these players because none of us is happy with our performance”.

Okocha, said that on the sidelines of the MTN Best 11, where he reunited with his former teammates like Nwankwo Kanu, Taribo West, Mutiu Adepoju, Ifeanyi Udeze, Celestine Babayaro, Garba lawal, Daniel Amokachi, Peter Rufai, Ike Shorunmu, Waidi Akanni and Etim Esin said that he was delighted to bond again with people he now feels are his brothers.

“We are like a family now,.We are no longer friends because we have known each other for so many years and it is always good to meet with these great players and talk about the issues that we have gone through in our football career”, said Okocha.