Former Super Eagles captain Austin ‘Jay-Jay’ Okocha has revealed that Brazilian football legend Ronaldinho recently questioned him about Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Okocha disclosed that Ronaldinho, his former teammate at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), was surprised that the Super Eagles would miss the global tournament.
On the Obi One podcast, Okocha expressed his approval of John Mikel Obi’s decision to publicly criticize the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
According to Okocha, the conversation reflected the high expectations surrounding Nigeria’s national team and the country’s reputation in international football.
The former midfielder and Ronaldinho played together at PSG, where their relationship developed into a strong friendship.
He said, “Kudos to you, John Mikel, you’re speaking up against the Nigerian Federation.
“I live in Nigeria, and the NFF president is my friend, so it’s difficult to speak up.
“I get asked by my colleagues like Ronaldinho why Nigeria hasn’t qualified for the World Cup.”
Okocha remains one of Nigeria’s most celebrated footballers, having represented the Super Eagles at several major international tournaments and captained the team during his illustrious career.
Nigeria’s failure to secure qualification for the World Cup has continued to attract criticism and disappointment among former players and football stakeholders.
Leave feedback about this