There have been growing rumours that legendary Super Eagles captain Austin Jay Jay Okocha is planning to contest for the presidency of the Nigeria Football Federation NFF These speculations came in the wake of public frustration over the handling of the national team following a disappointing draw in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers However Okocha has quickly dismissed the claims making it clear he has no interest in the position .
What Sparked the Rumours
The 1 1 draw between Nigeria and South Africa in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers created deep concern among fans and analysts Nigeria went into the match needing all three points but failed to secure victory which left supporters disappointed and angry The result intensified criticism of the current NFF board led by Ibrahim Musa Gusau with many calling for his resignation As dissatisfaction grew rumours began to circulate suggesting that Okocha might be positioning himself for leadership within the federation .
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Okochas Response
Okocha addressed the situation directly through his social media and public comments stating clearly that the reports were false He explained that he has not spoken to anyone about Nigerian football matters nor expressed any intention of becoming the NFF president At the time he was attending an international sports business event in Kigali which further proved that he was not engaged in any political maneuvering Okocha appealed to those spreading the rumours to stop while acknowledging the frustration of fans who have been disheartened by the current state of football in the country He encouraged supporters to remain hopeful for better days ahead .
Context of Nigerian Football and NFF Leadership
The present NFF administration under Ibrahim Musa Gusau took over from Amaju Pinnick in September 2022 Since then dissatisfaction has grown due to repeated complaints about unpaid allowances to national team players and widespread criticism of the boards management style Following the draw with South Africa Nigeria now finds itself six points behind the group leaders with only two crucial matches left to play against Lesotho and Benin Republic To have a chance at qualifying for the World Cup the Super Eagles must win both games The poor results and administrative challenges have intensified calls for reform at the federation level which explains why the rumours about Okocha gained quick traction .
Conclusion
Austin Jay Jay Okocha has made it absolutely clear that he is not interested in contesting for the NFF presidency He urged that misinformation of this nature should come to an end while stressing the importance of unity and belief in the brighter future of Nigerian football Although many continue to demand changes in leadership Okocha has distanced himself from such ambitions for now The spotlight remains on the current NFF board which faces mounting pressure from both fans and stakeholders to restore confidence in Nigerian football .