The reigning champions failed to qualify for the 2015 finals
after drawing 2-2 with South Africa in Uyo on Wednesday, marking a second exit
before the tournament proper in three editions.
South African defender Eric Mathoho (L) tries to stop
Nigerian attacker Ahmed Musa during the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying
football match between Nigeria and South Africa at Akwa Ibom stadium in Uyo,
Nigeria, on November 19, 2014. AFP PHOTO - See more at:
And while Stephen Keshi’s future has already been called
into question, Okocha believes the players have to take some of the
responsibility too.
“To be honest, we will always produce talented players. But
perhaps the question is whether they have the same passion that we used to
have,” Okocha said, adding, “sometimes it seems as if they don’t really care
much about the result.”
Wednesday’s result combined with Congo’s 1-0 win in Sudan to
extinguish Nigeria’s final hopes, but the 41-year-old said they had made it
very difficult for themselves earlier in the campaign.
“Of course it was down to our bad spot, even if we were
still in with a chance,” he added. “I think sometimes players must have a
wake-up call before they realise they are back in African football. They left
themselves get into a difficult position.”
Ironically, Okocha – who won 75 caps for his country –
believes the Super Eagles could have gone on to perform very well again in the
finals in Equatorial Guinea had the qualified amongst the final 16 teams.
“I have no doubt that had we managed to qualify we would
have had a good tournament, because you have to play really well once it comes
to the tournament itself. The qualifiers are sometimes a bit tricky here in
Africa, so I think if they had qualified they would have had a good
tournament.”
Okocha is currently acting as an ambassador for Western
Union’s ‘Pass for School’ programme which will see funding made towards better
education every time somebody posts an old photograph of themselves in a
childhood sports photo to Facebook or Twitter using the hashtag #PassForSchool.
He explained: “It is a great initiative, especially since it
helps the less privileged children because we all know how vital education is.
So I’m delighted to be a part of it.”
