Super Eagles legend Austin Jay-Jay Okocha has reacted to recent reports that he may be appointed as Nigeria’s Minister of Youth and Sports by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
One of Africa’s greatest-ever football players, Okocha expressed surprise at the news report first monitored on Soccernet.ng.
He said he learnt about the potential appointment through news reports since no government official has contacted him directly.
Taking to a post on Twitter, renowned Beninese journalist Hugues Zinsou Zounon, a recipient of Benin’s national order of merit award, revealed that the Super Eagles legend admitted that he would be thrilled to assume the role of Minister of Youth and Sports.
While there is no official confirmation of the appointment at present, Okocha expressed hope that the information would be verified soon. Zounon shared a photo of himself and the soccer icon whom he met at the Sofitel Ivoire.
Although Okocha has not been involved in Nigerian politics before, he possesses substantial experience in the country’s sporting landscape.
Recognized as a key figure in Nigerian sports history, Okocha was a vital player in the Super Eagles’ victory at the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations. Furthermore, he won a gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
From 2019 to 2023, he served as the technical adviser of the youth and sports committee in Enugu. Additionally, Okocha held the position of chairman at the Delta State Football Association.
Through these roles, he gained insights into governance and government policies about youth and sports development in Nigeria.
Okocha has previously expressed his desire to become the president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
His contributions to the sport extend beyond national borders, as he has served in various capacities within FIFA and participated in committees established by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to address important issues in African football.
Nigeria’s sports sector has faced significant challenges due to mismanagement in the past, and Okocha’s appointment could bring about much-needed development.
If officially appointed, Okocha would make history as the first former international footballer to hold this prestigious position.