Nigerian legend Jay-Jay Okocha has expressed concern about the waning appeal of African football. Okocha is considered one of the best players in African history, and he has been known throughout his career for his ostentatious and confident presence on the pitch. He believes that many players nowadays are more focused on money than showing off their skills on the pitch. Okocha's comments reflect the concerns of fans on social media about the reduced fun and creativity of football.
He recalls a time when African football used to have the best players in the world, including George Weah, Roger Miller and Abedi Pelle Ayo. Okocha's generation of players also admired Ronaldinho, Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo Nazario for their passion and show-off for the game. The decline in charisma is not confined to African football, but may have changed in the world of football in general. Some fans consider Neymar to be one of the few active players who still has charisma on the pitch at the moment.
Okocha's concerns about the waning glamour and enthusiasm of African football are understandable as the sport continues to evolve. In addition to voicing his concerns, Okocha supported Pieso Mosimane as the right person to be the coach of the Nigerian national team. Okocha believes that the work of the current coach Jose Pecero has ** opinion and that he could lose this position if he does not succeed in the Africa Cup of Nations. Mosimane has been linked to various coaching positions and he could bring pressure and prestige to the role of Super Eagles.