Okocha Reveals Nigeria’s Greatest Need

This is Nigeria’s best team in recent years, but the former Bolton Wanderers midfielder believes the team is still lacking in a particular area

Former Nigerian international, Austin Jay-Jay Okocha, says the current Super Eagles team lack a player that could change the direction of a game.

Okocha, who was a magical genius during his playing days, believes the three-time African champions are lacking creativity in the middle of the park.

The Super Eagles have struggled for a quality attacking midfielder since the former Fenerbahce star retired in 2006.

Although Nigeria is currently stocked with the likes of Joe Aribo, Alex Iwobi and Oghenekaro Etebo as its midfielders, Okocha insists neither is good enough to play the creative role for the Super Eagles.

“What the Eagles need now are natural midfielders who can create chances and change the course of a game,” Okocha said in an interview on Brila FM.

“We need midfielders who can run at defenders and a pick their teammates with good passes,” Okocha said during a radio programme.

“We have good midfielders but not in at that level at the moment.

The former Paris Saint Germain star added that some of the players are not daring enough and the comparison with the golden generation of 1994-1996 does not help their cause.

“Some of them are just scared, and the fact that they are being compared to the 1994 Eagles brings a bit of pressure on them,” Okocha added.