Joycelyn Adda, Austin Jay-Jay Okocha and Olufemi Soneye at The Exchange Podcast
By Our Reporter
Nearly two decades after Nigeria’s failed bid to qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, former Super Eagles captain Austin “Jay-Jay” Okocha still remembers the pain. In the latest edition of The Exchange Podcast hosted by Femi Soneye, the 52-year-old football legend opens up about the highs, lows, and lessons that shaped his remarkable journey — and the role he might still play in Nigeria’s football future.
The Day It All Slipped Away
Okocha recalled the heartbreaking 1–1 draw against Angola in Kano on June 18, 2005 — a result that ended Nigeria’s World Cup hopes. The decision to play under searing 40°C heat, he said, worked against the team.
> “It was tough on most of us coming from Europe,” he admitted. “We were supposed to be playing at home, but the weather felt completely against us.”
Though the Super Eagles led through Obafemi Martins, Angola’s Akwá equalized late to seal Nigeria’s fate on head-to-head advantage. “It was one of those games where everything just went wrong,” Okocha reflected.
A Dream in Blaugrana
Away from the pain of missed chances, Okocha shared one of football’s great “what-ifs” — his dream of playing for Barcelona.
> “If I had a second chance in football, I would certainly have loved to play for Barcelona,” he said.
For many fans, the Catalan club’s expressive, attacking style mirrored Okocha’s own flair. “Their football philosophy fits my kind of play — skillful, creative, entertaining,” he added.
“Why Not, If Not?” — On Leading Nigerian Football
The conversation also took a deeper, personal turn as Okocha hinted he might consider running for the Nigeria Football Federation’s top job someday.
> “I’m enjoying my private life and freedom,” he said. “But if it gets to a point where some of us must stand up and say enough is enough — why not, if not?”
He spoke passionately about his emotional connection to Nigerian football and his disappointment at seeing its decline. Okocha also revisited the 2002 Super Eagles’ disbandment, calling it a “mistake that broke the team’s rhythm” ahead of the World Cup that year.
Through it all, the legendary playmaker comes across not just as a retired star, but as a man still deeply bound to the game — reflective, patriotic, and ready to act if duty calls.
The full interview is now streaming on The Exchange Podcast with Femi Soneye, offering humour, honesty, and heartfelt insight from one of Africa’s most beloved footballers.
