The two Nigeria legends paid their dues in the game before retiring several years ago, but the world governing body is still courting their expertise
FIFA has named former Super Eagles stars Austin Okocha and Emmanuel Amuneke in a freshly-constituted Technical Advisory Group that will consult for FIFA on the future of men's football.
The prestigious panel is comprised of 38 legendary players and coaches from the world's six continents.
Okocha and Amuneke headline six African greats that also include Côte d’Ivoire's Didier Drogba and Yaya Touré, Morocco's Mustapha Hadji, and Cameroon's Geremi Njitap.
Other prominent former footballers who make up the panel include Brazil's Ronaldo Luis Nazário de Lima, Manchester United great Peter Schmeichel (Denmark), German icon Jürgen Klinsmann, Englishmen Michael Owen and John Terry, Dutch hero Marco van Basten, Oman's Ali Al-Habsi, Australia's golden boy Tim Cahill, among others.
The advisory group will meet later this week with ex-Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger, FIFA Director of World Football Development, in Doha, Qatar, for a two-day consultation.
French publications Francs Jeux stated on its website that the mission of the technical panel is “to assess potential alternatives to the current organisation of men's football through a double prism: the desire to make football truly global and the need to give every talent and every region a chance.”
Former Golden Eaglets coach Amuneke sealed his place as one of Nigeria's greats after playing at two FIFA World Cup finals and helping the country win gold at the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations tournament and the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
Ex-PSG playmaker Okocha, who participated in three World Cups, was also part of Nigeria's Afcon and Olympic Games winning teams.
Am happy FIFA has brought this kind of position to our legendries for them to continue be in the beautiful game and contribute their expertise passion and desire that they left behind for our young and future generation.
Thank you FIFA and the appointees
Reward for excellence. Jay Jay & Amuneke, perfect choice, I wished Garba Lawal (CHINDO) was included too.
Whether or not accepted, FIFA has shown the mistake they and CAF did in never crowning JayJay a world best and an Afican-Best during his playing days. Congrats to him and my friend Emmanuel Amuneke. What Nigeria does not respect, the world has done. Congrats to both of them.
Jay Jay Okocha is a true soccer Legend award or no award.
I find it most difficult to understand why KANU Nwakwo is left out of such a prestigious list that involves Arsene Wenger who coached at the Arsenal football club
I love that!
Those finding it difficult to understand why KANU has not been selected…..! Must it include everyone?? Haba. We are even Lucky to have been selected, considering the bad name Nigeria has overseas. Congratulations Jay jay and Emmycool
Jay Jay okocha is truly a soccer legend after many years of leaving the field for others to take over, the world stil beckon his experiences and expertise. Congratulations sir.
Jay Jay is a name never to be forgotten, he is always recognized regardless denying him awards he deserved, jayjay was also called I the last world cup with ronaldinho to test run the world cup ball, Kanu is recognised but okocha played the game,am happy two Nigerian footballers were picked…we are legendary