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By Oscar Okhifo
Legendary Nigerian midfielder Austin “Jay-Jay” Okocha has raised concerns about the Super Eagles’ chronic inconsistency, urging urgent reforms if the team is to mount a serious challenge at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
Okocha’s comments come in the wake of Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a disappointment he attributes to the team’s unpredictable performances throughout the qualifying campaign.
Over ten matches in the World Cup qualifiers, the Super Eagles recorded only four wins, five draws, and suffered a historic defeat to Benin Republic, marking the first competitive loss to the Cheetahs.
Equally alarming were unexpected home draws against Lesotho and Zimbabwe, revealing a team capable of brilliance on one day yet vulnerable on another.
Finishing second in their group behind South Africa forced Nigeria into the playoff route, where the pattern of inconsistency persisted.
A dramatic 4-1 extra-time win over Gabon gave hope, but the team was later eliminated in a penalty shootout against the Democratic Republic of Congo, confirming Nigeria’s absence from a second consecutive World Cup.
Reflecting on the qualifiers, Okocha said, “Nigeria’s run in the World Cup qualifiers was a rollercoaster, but we would have loved to see Nigeria qualify with ease.
“Football is not an easy game, and what I think they should improve on is to be more consistent. They need to stick to winning with top performance in every game. That is the standard for a nation like ours.”
Looking ahead to AFCON 2025, the Super Eagles are drawn in a group with Tunisia, Uganda, and Tanzania.
Despite a strong runner-up finish at the 2023 AFCON in Ivory Coast, skepticism surrounds the team following recent failures.
Coach Eric Chelle now faces the task of transforming Nigeria’s talented squad into a consistently high-performing unit.
Okocha’s message is clear: talent alone is no longer sufficient; consistency is the missing key for the Super Eagles to reclaim their place among Africa’s elite. Losing the World Cup and the African Cup of Nations will be too much of a disaster. It must not be allowed to happen.