Former Super Eagles captain, Augustine Okocha, has expressed sadness over Golden Eaglets’ inability to qualify for the semifinals of the U17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), after suffering 1-2 defeat to their counterpart from Burkina Faso on Thursday.
The loss means that the most successful team in the U17 tournament will not be at the 19th edition of the biennial international men’s youth football tournament holding between November 10 and December 2, 2023.
Speaking on the Eaglets’ setback yesterday, Okocha said that the neglect of a credible youth football development programme over the years have made the country, a have force to be reckoned with in the past U-17 tournament now to be outshined by other African countries.
He added said that for a nation to grow in soccer, that much investment should be put in developing youths from the grassroots.
“It is obvious for more than a decade now the football stakeholders have failed to invest in youth football development. The national U17 team use to dominate the cadet championship even in worst situations. Nations that are serious invest more in their youths to get the best out of them as players. Some few individuals who own academies in the country are inexperienced. There is no focused structure to prepare players from the grassroots,” he said.
The former BBC African footballer of the year said that he was planning to organise a penalty shootout competition that will see the assembly of other former African football legends later in the year in Nigeria, adding that goalkeepers from the Nigeria Professional League would be used in the championship to encourage and promote them for them to keep giving there best in their career.
“I would have loved to win the African footballer of the year during my days. Maybe I was in the wrong club at that time. bet shop It is one award I would have loved to win; it was not easy for an African player to play for top clubs because they don’t pay high wages. When they offer you contract, bet prediction site the money is small because they see it as doing you a favour.
“That is why I went for clubs that are ready to pay me higher; I go for the higher bidder. I had to turn down some offers from big clubs because of wage issue. But things have changed now, sports betting online as Africans and Nigeria get bigger football contract overseas,” he said.
While commenting on Alex Iwobi’s case in the Super Eagles, premier league odds he said Iwobi should be allowed to handle the Eagles midfield, adding that it is left for the handlers to bring out the best in him.
He dismissed the insinuation that he might get involved in football coaching business anytime soon, saying, “I can’t be a football coach because of the pressure involved. bet odds I simply cannot handle it for health reason.
I need to stay back and analyse the game, motivate the younger ones and share knowledge of the game when called on,” Okocha stated.
